E 







CI 



ass E /^ / 



1)01 



k,W.5j6 



i'ui:si;.NTi:i) ir»- 



list:, 



-X 





A SKETCH 

OF THE LIFE OF MRS. 

Jane Foster Wheeler 

(Wallace) 




Prepared by her Nephew 
Lieutenant Colonel 

OTIS WHEELER POLLOCK 

United States Anny 



1910 
SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA 



Tite Maiertic Prat, 3 1 5 Hsye* Street 

[' II 





t.ye^-rd. Ycfjte k^oA/c^ C /a cc/t€ic€\ Aee/e'i 






J 



A SKETCH 



OF THE LIFE OF 



Mrs. Jane Foster Wheeler 

(Wallace) 



Prepared by her Nephew 
Lieutenant Colonel 

OTIS WHEELER POLLOCK 

United States Army 



1910 
SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA 



Tke M«ic*tic PiMt. 3 1 5 KUtm Street 






JAW ,. 1911 



SKETCH 

Of the Life of Mrs. Jane Wheeler 




HE Wallaces, the Herous, the Culbertsons, the Evens 
family and the Gordons, were all people of education, 
refinement and position, and of a high order intelec- 
tually. These were the ancestors and blood rela- 
tions of Mrs. Wheeler. The inheritance by her of 
the superior qualities of her ancestors together with her own na- 
tural faculties, rendered her a very siiperior woman. Her con- 
nections bj^ marriage, through the different consanguineous 
members of her family were equally fortunate ; among whom 
were the Murrays, the Fosters, the Forsters, the Irvines, the 
Cutts family, (who were related to President Madison), the 
Crosmans, Commodore Dexter, Major Nelson, and others. 

Mrs. Wheeler was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on the se- 
venth day of April, 1810. She was the daughter of Dr. John 
Culbertson Wallace and Margaret Heron, his wife. Her grand- 
father, Beujamen \¥3W of Hanover, Dauphin County, Pennsyl- 
vania, was married three times, first to Lettice Ralston, by whom 
there was one child, Mary, who married James B. Wilson; 
Secondly to Elizabeth Culbertson, who became the mother of 
seven children, among them Mrs. Wheeler's father. Dr. John C. 
Wallace; Thirdly, to Rebecca Stamper, a widow, and Sister of 
Dr. Benjamin Rush, a celebrated physician of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



By this third marriage there was no issue. The father of Ben- 
jamin Wallace, Mrs. Wheeler's great-g-randfather, was William, 
born in County Antrim, in the North of Ireland in 1704. His 
wife's name was Mar^^ The father of William, Mrs. Wheeler's 
great-great-grandfather, was Thomas Wallace, of Ayrshire, Scot- 
land, descended from the Wallaces of EHerslie, to which family 
Sir William Wallace, the great Scottish patriot belonged. 

A Mr. Culbertson, whose Christian name has not been 
preserved, of the County Derry in the North of Ireland, emigra- 
ted from Scotland. His eldest son, John, emigrated to America 
in 1712, and settled in London Grove, in London Grove Town- 
ship, Chester County, Pennsylvania. His brother, Robert, came 
at the same time. This John died before 1726. His eldest son, 
John, was born in Ireland in 1710. He was a prominent man in 
Chester County. He was appointed a lieutenant in Colonel 
Moore's battalion of the Provincial militia from Chester Count}- 
in the year 1748. It is presumed that he served in the French 
and Indian wars. He was buried at Brandywine Manor A deed 
dated October 1770, shows that his son Benjamin, and his son- 
in-low, Benjamin Wallace, were living in Chester County, Penn- 
sylvania. This John Culbertson was twice married, first to Eliza 
Rogers, in 1731, at the first presbyterian church of Philadelphia. 
Some of his children were by this wife. She died about 1737 or 
1738. He married secondly Mrs. Abigail Whitehill, who had 
three children when he married her. Elizabeth Culbertson, wdfe 
of Benjamin Wallace, was probably the daughter of Mrs. White- 
hill, the second wife. From the foregoing it would appear that 
Mrs. Wheeler's grandmother, Elizabeth Culbertson, was the 
great-granddaughter of the Mr. Culbertson who emigrated from 
Scotland to the North of Ireland. 

James Gordon Heron, Mrs. Wheeler's maternal grand- 
father, was the son of James Heron who lived in Dumfries, Scot- 
land, In a letter which he wrote to his son, James Gordon Heron, 
dated at Dumfries, February 2nd, 1766, he speaks of being in 
good health and strength, and in his eighty-second year. His 
wife was Margaret Gordon, a young woman of fine attainments 
and of a noble line of ancestry, no doubt related to the Marquis 
of Huntly. 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



James Gordon Heron, as a young man, was a civil engi- 
neer and came to America about the year 1769, and settled in 
New Jersey. He was commissioned a lieutenant and later pro- 
moted to a captaincy in Colonel Hazen's of "Congress own" Con- 
tinental Line, April 8th, 1777. Was captured at Staten Island, 
New York, during an attack on the British, August 23rd, 1777. 
Was exchanged and served with his regiment until 1780, when 
he resigned on account of the wounds he had received. Among 
the battles in which he was engaged, were Brandywine and 
( jcrmantown. He was a member of the Maryland Society of the 
Cincinnati, a delegate from Cecil County, Mar^dand to the con- 
vention which met at Annapolis in April, 1788, to ratify the 
constitution of the United States. 

Captain Heron mamed Eleanor Evans of Cecil County, 
AIar3'land and resided in Pittsburg prior to 1794. He was a 
member of the Peuns3dvania legislature from Pittsburg. In 
1800, he moved to P'ort Franklin, which became the town of 
In-ankliu, in Venango County, Pennsylvania. He was county 
comissioner, and also Associate Judge. At one time during the 
V\^ar he served on General Washington's staff. He died De- 
cember 30th, 1809. 

Eleanor Evans, the wife of James Gordon Heron and ma- 
ternal grandmother of Mrs. Wheeler, was the daughter of James 
Iv/ans and his wife, Eleanor Kilpatrick. 

James Evans, the father of Eleanor, was the son of James 
Evans, a resident of England, who, with his wife and children, 
immigrated to America in 1715, and took up land in Chester 
County, Pennsylvania, not far from the town of Oxford. He 
wos born in England in 1711, and died in 1783, near Port De- 
posit, Maryland. In 1739 he purchased a four hundred acre 
tract of land of John and Richard Penn, and in 1752 sold it to 
his brother John and purchased four hundred acres near Port 
•Deposit on the Susquehanna River in Cecil County. 

Mrs. Wheeler remained in Erie, where she was born un- 
til after the death of her parents. Her mother having died on 
the 24th of December, 1823, and her father on December 8th, 
1827. During her residence in Erie, she was associated with 
the families of Reed, Reid, Sill, Forster, Colt, Wilkins, Russell, 



6 SK ETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

Evans, Ciilbertson, Hamet and others, who were contemporary 
with her parents. There was possibly a closer intimacy with 
the Wilkins family than with any of the others. There was a 
Mrs. Wallace, a widow, who came to Erie ; at what time and un- 
der what circumstances it can not now be stated and was an in- 
mate of the family oLDr. ^^^allace for many years. While .she 
was, of course, a blood relation, ancTfrom ihe North of Ireland, 
the kinship was so far removeathat it was not possible to trace 
the connection. Her maiden name was Mary Montgomery. 
Her brother, Robert Montgomery, lived in Philadelphia and was 
United States Consul at Madrid, Spain in 1780. Her brother 
James Montgomery, was an officer in the Royal Navy. Her sis- 
ter, Elizabeth, was married and lived in Philadelphia. Her 
daughter, Mary Wallace married Thomas Wilkins. Their chil- 
dren were Charles, Thomas, James, Joseph, Mary, Jane, John 
and William. 

After the death of Mrs. Wheeler's parents and the disper- 
sal of the family, the incidents of her life will be more interest- 
ingly told in her own words. At the request of her children and 
grandchildren, she, from time to time jotted down recollections 
of her past life, as follows: 

"I was born in Erie in 1810. My father was a doctor; he 
married Margaret Heron in Marjdand and moved to Erie in 1800. 
They had seven children. I was the fifth; when my eldest sister 
was about eighteen, she died very suddenly with apoplexy. The 
shock was so great that neither of our parents ever recovered 
from it. Mother lived two years in miserable health, and died 
with a nervous fever. Pa lived two years after her: I was just 
seventeen at his death. An aunt from Franklin, Pennsylvania, 
(Mrs. Irvine) came up at his death and took me home with her, 
I spent the winter there and returned to Erie in the spring. We 
then broke up house-keeping: my sister, youngest brother and 
myself, went to Mr. Wilkins' to board. An uncle of ours from 
Greensburg, Pennsylvania, (Alexander Foster) came to visit us 
and I went home with him and spent the summer. In the fall I 
returned again to Erie; and that fall, my eldest brother who had 
been at Green Bay clerking in his uncle Heron's sutler store for 
two or three years, was appointed sutler in the third regiment 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEE LER 7 

that was stationed at Jefferson Barracks; he came home to see us 
and wanted Betsy, Pen-y and myself to go to the Barracks and 
keep house; but Betsy was teaching and did not want to go, but 
agreed to my going if he would promise to bring me back the 
next spring, which of course he did. Perry and myself went 
with him; he put Perry in school in St. Louis, and I visited my 
relatives, as I had some in both regiments, the third and sixth, 
which were stationed there at the time. Uncle and aunt Heron, 
Major and Mrs. Nelson and aunt Irvine in the third, and the 
Colonel and Mrs. Crosman in the sixth. Besides I had a very 
dear friend, Mrs. Wright, with whom I spent most of my time. 
Her husband was an officer of the sixth. 

''When the time came for me to go home in the spring, 
Benjamin was in Washington on business, and was absent seve- 
ral months; so I did not go home. I was manned that fall to 
Lieutenant Wheeler of the third regiment of Infantry, at Mr- 
Wright's house; and a few days after went to housekeeping. 
Shortly after this, Mr. Wheeler was ordered to Rock Island to 
the Black Hawk war, and was absent some time. St. Louis at 
that time was a small place. There were but two or three diy 
good stores, two boarding houses and one hotel, and it was only 
for gentlemen. There were no houses above fourth street; it was 
all woods. Market was the business street. There was a daily 
mail run between St. Louis and the ban'acks to accomodate the 
officers and their families. That was in 1830. That fall the 
third regiment was ordered to Fort Jessup in Louisiana. We 
went on steam boats to Natchitoches, and from there in wagons 
to the fort, which was twenty-five miles from there on the divid- 
ing ridge between the Red and Sabina Rivers. We remained 
there seven years. I had three children bom there, Mary, Eli- 
zabeth and Wallace. Elizabeth lived to be three years old and 
died with scarlet fever. When Mary was a year old, I had been 
from Erie four years. I went back on a \4sit; Betsy had married 
a Mr. Pollock and was living in Erie. 

"During that summer, she and I went into Canada to visit 
uncle and aunt Murray, who were living on a farm near Toronto. 
We also visited the Niagara Falls. Late in the fall Mr. Wheeler 
got a furlough and came to Erie, and in February we went to 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



New Hampshire to visit his mother and sister. We remained 
there until the fifteenth of June, and returned" to Fort Jessup. 
Those were the days of slow traveling; we were six weeks going 
from New Hampshire to Jessup. Mr. Wheeler was promoted to 
a captaincy and was in command of company 'H'. In the fall of 
1838 we were ordered to Fort Smith, Arkansas; when we got to 
Grand Ecore where we were to take a boat, Mr. Wheeler had two 
fits of apoplexy, and was not able to go on. The troops went on 
and when Mr. Wheeler was well enough, we went back to Jes- 
sup, where we remained until he was well enough to travel. He 
went with a soldier who had been left sick in the hospital when 
the troops left; went through to Fort Smith on horseback. In 
the fall when the Red River was high enough, for the boats to 
run, I, with the children and servant followed. The town of 
Fort Smith was a small place then, only one street just along the 
River and about a dozen houses. The gan-ison was a mile back 
from the River; it was a lovely place. As soon as I got there I 
wrote to Mary Wilkin s and told her I wanted her now to fulfil 
her promise. When I was a girl, we promised that whichever 
mamed first, the other would live with them, and she had never 
married, but would not come to me, while I had so many relatives 
about me, saying that I did not need htr; but now that I was 
almost alone, there was but one other lady in the garrison, Mrs, 
Lieutenant Henry, the mother of General Guy Henry. She 
(Mary Wilkins) came and was with me until her death, which 
took place in Troy, some fifteen years ago. She was a great 
help and comfort to me. Clara Wheeler was born at Fort Smith 
in 1840. A year and a half after we went to Fort Smith, Mr. 
Wheeler was ordered to Florida with his command to the Indian 
War: I remained at Fort Smith with the troops that relieved 
him. There were several ladies with them. General Taylor 
had his wife and daughter, Major Leet had his family, and Lieu- 
tenant Simmons had a wife. 

After we had been at Forth Smith three years, Mr. Whee- 
ler wrote me for Mary and I to take the children and go to Erie, 
and stay until the war was over, and he would get a furlough 
and come for us. But about that time Mr. Simmons received 
orders to go to Florida, and was going to take his family with 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



him. The Dr. advised me to go with them, as my health was 
poor and he thought the climate would be better for me than a 
northern one, and he thought I would not be so uneasy about 
Mr. Wheeler if I was near him, and Mr. Simmons offered to take 
charge of us. When we got to New Orleans, We had to remain 
a week waiting for a vessel to cross the Gulf, and then had to 
take a small schooner. We arrived safely at Port Leon, but 
there Mr. Simmons found orders awaiting him to take the same 
schooner and go to some other part of Florida, so we were left at 
the hotel there alone. I did not know what to do; I felt wretched, 
Mr. Wheeler fifty miles away, and did not know we were com- 
ing. How to get to him I did not know. When we went to sup- 
per, there was a Dr. of the army I knew at the table. I told him 
liow we were situated and he said he was going up to Fort Stans- 
bury that night and he would tell the commanding officer, and 
he knew he would send a currier to Captain Wheeler; so I made 
up my mind that I must sta}' where I was for a few days, at 
least; but about ten that night, there came a tap at my door. I 
called to know who was there. He said a sergeant with a letter 
from Colonel Vose. I got up and took the letter. He said he had 
a vagon and an escort to take us to the next post, which was 
twenty-five miles from Port Leon. Early the next morning we 
were in the wagon and started. Some time during the day, Mary 
Wilkins saw .some magnolias, the first she had ever seen, and 
she asked the sergeant to let the men get them for her. I felt 
alarmed at the men leaving the wagon, as we were in an Indian 
countiy, and did not know what minute we might be attacked; 
but I said nothing and Ma.ry got the flowers. Soon after that 
the men fired off their carabines at .some squirrels. I then be- 
came thoroughl}^ alarmed, and told the sergeant if he suffered 
the men to leave the wagon again, 1 would report him to Colonel 
Vose. He said it should not occur again. We an'ived safely at 
the post before dark. I found old friends there; Captain and 
Mrs. Morris, and spent a pleasant night. The next morning we 
left with a fresh escort, and three miles from the Fort we met 
Mr. Weeler coming to meet us. His first greeting was, well 
Jane how have you been these three daj's? 

"We arrived safely that night at Fort Pleasant, fifty miles 



to SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



from Port Leon. There we found a comfortable house for a hot 
climate. The whole command had turned out and built it when 
they heard we were coming. It was of green pine logs and green 
clapboards for shingles, with weight poles to keep them down. 
There were no nails in the house. There were four rooms, two 
on each side of a wide hall, puncheen floors and a stick chimney^ 
that took fire every few days. They built a stationary table in 
the dining room, with benches on each side of it. The kitchen 
was in the yard. I had taken my bedding and carpets, but no 
furniture. The soldiers made us bedsteads and a couch; they 
also made me a comfortable chair; Mary had taken her rocker 
with her. They made a setee for the hall, and we sent to Port 
Leon for dishes. Mr. Wheeler bought three wooden bottom 
chairs for which he paid three dollars a piece. I hired an old 
black woman from a planter; so we were very comfortably fixed. 
My health was poor and the Dr. advised me to ride on horseback. 
So one day Mr. Wheeler and I started with an escort of sixteen 
men. Mr. Wheeler wanted me to go and see where he encamped 
when he first went into Florida. We got as far as the river, two 
miles from the Fort, and were about to cross it when we met a 
man and Mr. Wheeler asked him what was the news; he said the 
Indians were in his corn-field the night before. I did not wait 
to hear any more, but turned my horse's head and galloped back 
to the post as fast as my horse could carry me. I did not wait 
for the escort or anything else, and it was the last ride I took for 
my health, and I never did see the encampment. Shortly after 
that we were invited to spend the day and night with a family 
that lived eight miles from the Fort. We went, Mary and my- 
self as usual, in the wagon, and Mr. Wheeler on horseback, wdth 
an escort of men. We spent a pleasant day and night, and in 
the morning when we were ready to start home, the soldiers 
were all drunk; had gotten whiskey in the night, and as it was 
not safe to go without a guard, Mr. Wheeler left us and took the 
men back to camp, and sent Lieutenant Dobbins out with a fresh 
escort, but it was night when he got there, so we had to stay an 
other night, and in the morning it was the same thing: the men 
all drunk. So we were left there another day, until Dobbins 
went back and sent Mr. Wheeler after us. He did not suffer 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



the men to leave the door until we got into the wagon. We got 
home safely, and I thought it would be the last time I would 
leave home during the war. 

"Mr. Wheeler was in command of three posts, one five 
miles from Fort Pleasant, and the others ten. Some weeks after 
our visit to Mrs. Dr. McGee, we were invited by the Lieutenant 
commanding the post ten miles off to dine with him. Mr. Whee- 
ler insisted on m}^ going, as he had to go; so Mary, the children 
and myself went in the wagon, and Mr. Wheeler on horseback, 
with the usual number of men as a guard. We spent a pleasant 
day, had a good dinner and when we got into the wagon to go 
home, Mr. Wheeler stopped to give some orders to the lieutenant 
and the driver said to me, madam the escort are all drunk, shant 
I drive fast until we get to the next post? I said yes; he started 
off at a rpid rate. When Mr. Wheeler looked round and saw 
how we were going, he knew the driver must be as drunk as the 
rest. He came after us as fast as he could, but never overtook 
us until we got to the next post, which was five miles. There 
we got a sober escort and arrived safely at home; so that ended 
mv visiting while at Pleasant. We had plenty of company, Mr. 
Wheeler being in command, we entertained all the officers that 
came on duty and all that passed through to other posts in Flo- 
rida. Mr. \'\^heeler \\'as from home a great deal of the time after 
Indians, tramping through the swamps and sleeping on the 
ground. At one time he was gone six weeks. When I had 
been at Fort Pleasant six months, there came an order one morn- 
ing at guard-mounting, for Mr. Wheeler to break up camp and 
go to Fort Stansbury, some sixt}-^ miles from Pleasant, between 
Port Leon and Tallahassee. Mr. Wheeler asked if he would send 
me a couple of men, if I could pack up. as he had all he could do 
to attend to getting the command ready to march. So at two 
o'clock that afternoon we were in the wagons on our way. That 
night we encamped out in a pouring down rain. We did not get 
wet, but the dampness was not pleasant. The next morning we 
arrived at Stansbury where we found pleasant quarters. We 
spent the winter there. While there I visited the Wacnla 
Spring, and went to Tallahassee one Sunday to church. In the 
spring the war ended. 



12 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



"While we were at Stansbury, Mr. Wheeler and I took 
a trip to Cedar Keys and Tampa Bay. The latter is a lovely 
place. When the war closed, the third regiment was ordered to 
Jefferson Barracks, Mr. Wheeler brought in the last indians 
that were brought in. When we arrived at the Barracks, we 
sent Mary Wheeler to Erie to attend school. Mr. Wheeler was 
so crippled with rheumatism he was not able to do duty, so he 
resigned and we came to Troy, where he had a brother living. 
We went on a farm a mile from town. I had three children 
born here, Otis, Benjamin and Norton. Some years after, when 
Wallace was grown, he and I took a trip East; we first visited 
Erie; it had been thirty-five years since I had been there before, 
and of course I found very few outside of my sister's family, that 
I knew. We went from there to Syracuse, New York, to visit 
aunts Irvine and Nelson and cousin Hannah Cutts; thence to 
New Hampshire to visit Mr. Wheeler's relatives, after which we 
returned home. When we got back, Wallace went to clerk on a 
boat that ran between St. Louis and New Orleans. When Mary 
finished her schooling, she came home and in 1848 she died. It 
was the first year of the Civil War that Wallace and I went 
East. He afterwards married Mary Montague and farmed in St. 
Charles County. He died in 1880 with pneumonia. Otis mar- 
ried Cherrie Dyer, and was deputy marshal in St. Louis for se- 
veral years. He is now a special agent on the Cotton Belt Road 
and is living in Tyler, Texas. Clara aLso went to school in Erie 
and after her return, married lawyer McKee and lived in Troy. 
A few years after McKee died, she left Troy and makes her 
home with her daughters, one of which lives in Washington, D. 
C. and the other in Brownwood, Texas. 

"Norton Wheeler died with con.sumption. Mr. Wheeler 
died in 1872 with kidney trouble. Ben married soon after his 
father's death, a Mrs. Adams, a widow, and lived with me bet- 
ween two and three years, when they bought a home and I lived 
with them for twenty-four years. It is forty-six years since I 
came to Troy, and I was ninety years old the seventh of last 
April. My eldest brother, Benjamin, was a major in Fannin's 
regiment, and was killed with the rest of the prisoners, at Goliad 
Texas. My second brother, Gordon Wallace, married Margaret 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 13 



Fiilkersoii and farmed in St. Charles County, Missouri, and died 
there. My youngest brother, William Perry Wallace, died at 
Brownsville, Texas, where he with a partner was keeping a store 
and at his death, his partner took everything. 

" My father, John Culbertson Wallace, in the war of 1812 
served in the army as a surgeon, for a while he was stationed at 
Pittsburgh with General 

"Althoiigh I was only four years old when the war closed 
I can remember the Navy Officers coming to my father's to bid 
them good bye; I can only remember the names of two of them; 
Commodore Perrj^, who was a warm friend of Pa, and my young- 
est brother was named for him. The other was Lieutenant 
Holdup, who afterwards changed his name to Stevens for a 
fortune. 



Another Paper, Evidently Written Later 




HE first visit I made East was in 1833. I left home 
iu 1829 and had never been back. It was the first 
day of May and a very hot day. Mary my oldest 
child was a year old that day; we went to Nacatosh 
in a wagon, and had to stay there for a week waiting' 
for a boat to New Orleans. Mr. Wheeler staid with us at the 
boarding house. Captain Morris and family and Mrs. Captain 
Harris were also going East. When we arrived at New Orleans 
we found a boat that was to leave for Wheeling, Virginia, in a 
day or two, and went from the boat we were on, to it. The next 
day Captain and Mrs. Morris were going up in town to do some 
shopping and asked me to go with them; so I left Mar^' with 
Mrs. Harris and went. I remember, among other things, I 
bought a corral necklace; and when we got back to the boat, I 
found that we have been shopping on Sunday. I had lost the 
day of the week, and from the stores and business houses all 
being open, it never struck me as being Sunday. When we got 
to Louisville, Mrs. Harris left us, and when we got to Wheeling, 
Captain and Mrs. Morris left and went to Albany, New York, 
where he was ordered on recruiting service. They put me in 
the care of the captain of the boat, and when we got to Pittsburgh 
he went for cousin Alexander Foster, and he came and took me 
to a hotel in the city where he and uncle Foster, boarded. I had 
a letter from Dr. Craig of Jessup to his brother in Pittsburgh. 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 15 



I gave the letter to Alec to deliver and went to my rooms and 
laid down. In a short time Mr. Craig came and insisted on my 
going to his house, where I spent two or three days very pleas- 
antl3\ I then found conipan}' going to Erie, where I spent the 
summer with my sister, Mrs. Pollock, and in the fall Mr. 
Wheeler got a furlough and came on to take me to New Hamp- 
shire, to \'isit his mother and sisters. 

At the time we were to start, I was taken with pneumonia 
and b}' the time 1 was able to travel it was February, We star- 
ted one daj^ after dinner in the stage coach in a snow storm. We 
got to North East about nine at night, and from there we had to 
go in a wagon. The roads were .so bad we traveled all that night 
the next day and night, and got to Buffalo the next morning at 
seven. Our road lay along the Lake Shore and we went over 
snow banks as high as a house. The men would have to hold 
up the wagon as we were passing over them. We staid in Buf- 
falo a da}^ and a night, and left there about nine in the morning 
in a stage coach with nine inside passengers and three babies. 
We were as close as sardines in a box. In that way we traveled 
until ten at night, vvhen we stopped for supper. I felt as if I 
could not go an}' farther in that way. Mr. Wheeler found the 
mail coach just ready to start out with only four passengers, and 
they uere allowed to carry six, so we took the vacant seats in it, 
and were very comfortable the rest of the night: In the morn- 
ing we got to Skenectid}', and from there to Albany we went on 
the railroad. It was the first one built in the United States, and 
the cars were drawn by horses. At that time we staid in Albany 
to rest and started at four in the morning in the stage, and at 
eleven that night we got to a hotel on the top of the Green 
Mountains where we rested until four, and that night between 
nine and ten we got to Mr. Fox's in Hancock. They were not 
looking for us but their son, who was in business in Boston, had 
just arrived a few minutes before lis, and they had a good fire 
and a hot supper, both of which we enjoyed, for we were both 
cold and hungry. We remained there and at Mount Vernon 
visiting Mr. Wheeler's mother and sisters until the fifteenth of 
June. My visit there was a very pleasant one; all were so kind. 
We came back as far as Buffalo in the stage. We spent a few 



16 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

days ill Albany on the way, visiting some army friends. At 
Buffalo we took a boat for Erie; it was the old Superior. It was 
the first boat, that is steam boat, that had been on the lakes. I 
remember when it came to Erie the first time; it was a great cu- 
riosity; everj'body flocked to see it, mother among the rest, and 
she took me with her. I was quite young then. It was com- 
manded by Captain Ruff, a little Scotchman; he was a great 
friend of Pa and uncle Murry, and visited us often. I remember 
at one time the woods all around the town were on fire, and all 
the men were out fighting the fire to keep it from getting to the 
magazine which was full of powder, and the little Captain was 
sitting on uncle Murry's porch dozing. Aunt said to him. Cap- 
tain if the fire gets to the magazine, will it blow up the town ? 
He said, I, I, Mem it will send us all a skylarking; and dropped 
off into a doze again. 

After spending a week in Erie with my sister, we came 
by stage to Pittsburgh, and there had to wait a day for a boat, to 
go down the river. The boat only went to Louisville, where we 
had to wait over a week for a boat. Da\^ Crocket was at the ho- 
tel with us for a few days. He was just from Washington 
wltere he had been in Congress, and was on his way to Texas, 
Where he was killed at the Alamo. He was a venerable looking 
old man; his hair was long, parted in the middle and combed 
over his ears. He seemed to be a great curiosity to the people. 
This was in Jackson's time and they were having trouble with 
the United States Bank. One evening at the supper table he 
was asked about the bank and replied that the faro bank was the 
only one he knew anything about, and he had lost five hundred 
dollars at that, and he never wanted to know anything about 
banks since. 

One evening Mr. Wheeler and I were sitting on the 
porch at the hotel when Crockett came out and sat down at the 
other end of the porch; A drunken man came staggering up the 
steps and peered up into Crockett's face and said how are you 
Davy? Mr, Wheeler and I were walking one evening in the 
City when a gentleman came up to me and said; Miss Wallace; I 
recognized him as Mr. Boyd of Waterford, Pennsylvania, who 
had visited at my father's when I was a young girl. I intro- 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



duced liim to Mr, Wheeler and he went with ns to the hotel and 
spent the afternoon with us talking over old times. We got a boat 
at last to the mouth of the Red River, where we had to wait a 
\\ eck for a boat to go up farther. It was the most terrible place 
I ever was in; the sick and dying all around, and nothing to eat 
but corn bread and fat meat, and coffee without sugar or cream. 
After a week we got a boat to Alexandria. 

The river was so low that the boat could go no farther; .so 
there we hired a team and went across the country to Jessup, 
some sixty miles. The first day we went twenty-five miles and 
stoi;)]>ed at a farm house; the owner of it had been killed a short 
time before; he was shot through the window, and they ran out 
to see who did it; a negro was passing, and they took him and 
hung him. but afterwards it was found out that it was a white 
man ;vho shot him. The woman told me so many awful things 
the negros had done, that I did not know but I might be mur- 
dered before morning. We started early the next morning; we 
had forty miles to go to another stopping place. About the 
middle of the da}- we came to a house in the middle of a prairie. 
We stopped and got our dinner;;; it was a white man that owned 
the house who had a black wife. We got lost in the woods after 
night and it was ten o'clock before we found our way out and got 
to a house. The man said his wife was dying and he could not 
keep us; but i\ir. Wheeler said we must stay if we slept on the 
porch, for it was too dark to go farther; so he gave us a bed in a 
shed room where you could see out in every direction. In the 
morning lie gave us breakfast. There was an old maid there 
nursing the dying woman, and she would insist on my going in 
to see her. She died that day, and in six weeks afterwards he 
married the old maid. We had only twenty miles farther to go, 
so got to uncle Heron's in the garrison for dinner. The next 
day we went into quarters in the Fort, and both Alary and myself 
were sick for some time. 



Another Paper 




HE last year or two 1 was at Fort Smith. General 
Taylor was there in command. His wife and his 
daughter, Bettie, were with him. The town of Fort 
Smith was very small at that time, and there were 
but two or three families outside of the grarrison that 
we visited. There was an old farmer by the name of Atmor; he 
had a wife and two daughters. They called on me when I first 
went there, and after Mrs. Taylor came, Mrs. Atmor had been in 
town shopping, and among other things she got a broom and had 
it strapped onto the side of the mule she rode; so on her way 
home she called on the General's ladies. When Mrs. Taylor 
went to return the call, she and Bettie came in their carriage for 
aunt and myself to go with them. When we got there the old 
man left his work and came in. He made a great fuss over the 
General's lady, and scarcely noticed the rest of us; but presently 
he recognized Betty and begged her to excuse him as he thought 
she was one of his own daughters sitting there. It amused us 
greatly for his girls were not very refined. One day the old 
man called at my house and I asked him to stay to dinner, and 
he said — well the Major asked me to dine with him, and I be- 
lieve I will give him the preference. Major Bliss was General 
Taylor's aid at that time, and soon after we left, he and Bettie 
were manied. I left them at Fort Smith and never saw them 
afterwards; but after he was President, aunts Nelson and Irvine 
and cousin Hannah Cutts visited Mrs. Taylor, and spent several 
weeks with her in the White House. She had her own private 
appartments and was never seen in public. Mrs. Bliss did the 
honors at the White House. 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER ^19 

When General Lafayette visited this coiitry, he honored 
Erie with a visit of a few hours. My father was appointed to 
welcome him to the town. They gave him a banquet in a bower 
on the bank of the Lake where they had a view of the whole bay. 
The table was elegantly decorated. He held a reception at the 
home of Juda Colt; all the ladies in town went; I was considered 
too young to go, but aunt Wilson, a sister of Pa, and my sister 
Betsy went. Aunt knew him when he was in the country first 
time; he had visited her father (Benjamin Wallace). I, with 
other children, watched him as he passed through the streets in 
an open carriage. 

When I was last in Erie, my sister still had the big iron 
kettle that General Anthony Wayne was boiled in. He died in 
the Block House there. He had just concluded a treaty at Det- 
roit with the Indians and was on his way home when he was 
taken sick on the vessel. They brought him to Erie: There 
being no doctor there of note, they sent to Pittsburgh for Pa. 
He was a surgeon in the army with General Arbuckle's com- 
mand there. When he got as far as Franklin, he met a messen- 
ger who told him of the General's death. The General reqiiested 
them to bury him at the foot of the flag-staff on the bank of the 
Lake. Some years later his son, Isaac Wayne, came from Phi- 
ladelphia to Erie in a sulky for his father's bones, and asked Pa 
to see to his being disinterred and his bones packed in a box. 
When they opened the grave he was found to be in a good state 
of preservation, with the exception of one foot. So they cut him 
up and boiled the flesh off his bones, and packed them in a box 
which was tied to the back of the sulky. The kettle is a large 
iron one. 

The following is from the "Washington Evening Star" 
Tuesday, January 24, 1905. 

REMOTE PAST RECALLED 

Recollections of Mrs. Otis K. Wheeler, Now Ninety-four 
Years Old. 

Reminiscences of the remote past were recalled by a letter 
recently received by Mrs. C. P. Grandfield of 949 *S' Street 



20 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WAI-LACE) WHEELER 

North- West, from her grandmother, Mrs. Otis K. Wheeler of 
Troy, Missouri, w ho is ninety-four years old. The letter is in 
Mrs. W^heeler's handwriting and is clearly written in the bold 
chirography of the early days of the republic. 

The writer says that some newspaper clippings contained 
in a letter sent her by Mrs. Grandfield, brought back to her many 
things she had not thought of for years. 

"I was fourteen years old;" she states, "when Lafayette 
visited this country. I was a school girl, and my father was 
appointed to receive him and welcome him to the town. They 
gave him a banquet in a bower on the banks of Lake Erie. In 
the afternoon he held a reception at Mr. Colt's. My sister Betsy 
and aunt Wilson went. She (Aunt Wilson) was a sister of my 
father, and had known Lafayette when he was first in this 
country. He visited at her father's v.hen she was a j^oung lady. 

'T remember seeing him (Lafayette) as he passed down 
the street in a buggy, bowing right and left to the crowd. He 
was a fine looking man. 

"And I remember the Black Hawk war, for it was just 
after I was married. We were stationed at Jefferson Barracks 
(the United States cavalry rendezvous near St. Louis, Mo.), and 
I was so distressed when your grandfather was sent to the war. 
When he came back I cried for joy. He laughed and said, if I 
was sorry he had come back, he would go again. 

"Your clippings brought to my memory something that 
occured seventy years ago: Your grandfather and mj^self were 
returning South after a visit to our relatives in the East. We 
had to wait a week at Louisville for a boat to go down the river. 
There was at that time a member of Congress named Davy 
Crockett. Congress had just adjourned and he was on his way 
to Texas. He was afterwards killed in the Alamo. He wore 
his hair long, parted in the middle and it hung down his back. 
It was at the time there was so much trouble in Congress over the 
United States Bank, and one of the gentlemen at the supper table 
asked him what had been done in Congress about it. Davy 
Crockett replied that he knew nothing about banks. That he 
had lost, one night in Washington, five hundred dollars on the 
Faro Bank, and had nothing to do with banks since. There was 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 21^ 

a great deal written about him in the papers at that time. He 
was quite a notable character." 

The following is a newspaper clipping written by Kathe- 
rina J. Laws, dated March 9th, 1908. 

GRANDMA WHEELER, 

"Rosemary, that's for remembrance". 

Many loving hearts will pay tribute to the beautiful char- 
acter of ''Grandma Wheeler," and I send my sprig of rosemary 
in memory of the years of association with her in Washington. 

That which most deeply impressed me in her life was her 
simple faith in the invisible. Sht looked not to the things which 
are seen, but at the things which are not seen. 

As shadows became broader and the "windows were dark- 
ened," the lights of the "land beyond the sea" cheered and com- 
forted her on the way home. The Pilot who met her was the 
friend she had loved for nearly a centurj\ What we call death 
was the disembarking on the eternal shore. 

"Immortal? I feel it and know it." Who doubts it of 
such as she? 

In the service conducted by her pastor, the beloved Mr. 
Kennedy, the sermon, the hymns, appropriately expressed her 
faith that "death is swallowed up in victoiy." She was tired 
after the long voyage, "and there is rest for the weary" voiced in 
her knowledge that she has laid her burdens down. "Asleep in 
Jesus," and "We shall sleep, but not forever," reminded us that 
her awakening was blessed. How often here she awoke to toil 
and pain and anguish of spirit. But there "none ever awake 
to weep." 

The other day I saw snowdrops nodding in the March 
wind. They had come up through the dead earth to reveal their 
fragile loveliness to every passer-by, telling us of a newer and 
higher life than that in the bed where they lay all winter. 

There are souls that dwell among us that accept the 
conditions of earth, but who feel the breath of the coming 
spring and who wear the blossoms of celestial graves. Grandma 




Jl SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

was one of these. Though we shall not see her responsive face, 
unfolding the story of a hundred years, the beauty and fragrance 
of this life shall abide, lifting our thoughts to eternal things. 

SHE WILL SLEEP TO-NIGHT 

Sent to Mrs. McKee upon hearing of the death of her mother, 

Mrs Jane Wheeler. 



MOOTH the braids of her silken hair. 

On her queenly brow with tender care; 
Gather the robe in a final fold 

Around the form that will not grow old; 
Lay on her bosom, pure as snow, 

The fairest, sweetest flowers that grow 
Kiss her and leave her, your heart's delight. 
In dreamless peace she will sleep to-night. 

A shadowy gleam of life-light lies 

Around the lids of her slumbering eyes, 
And her lips are closed in fond delay 

Of the loving words she had to .say; 
But her gentle heart forgot to beat, 

And from dainty hands to dainty feet 
She is strangely quiet, cold and white, 

The fever is gone; she will sleep to-night. 

Put by her work and her empty chair; 

Fold up the garments she used to wear, 
Let down the curtain and close the door. 

She will need the garish light no more. 
For the work assigned her under the sun, 

Is finished now and the guerdon won. 
Fondly kiss, put out the light. 

And leave her alone — she will sleep to-night 

Weep for the days that will come no more, 

For the sunbeam glows from hearth to door, 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 23^ 

For a missing step, for a nameless grace, 

Of a tender voice and a loving face; 
But not for the soul whose goal is won, 

Whose infinite joy is just begun; 
Not for the spirit enrobed in light, 

And crowned where the angels are to-night. 

Mrs. Cleveland, 
February 22, 1908. Brownwood, Texas. 

*** 

Captain Wheeler wrote to Mrs. Mary W. Kittredge, his sister, at 

Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated April 29, 1829, 

at which time he was stationed at Cantonment 

Leavenworth. He says: 

We have an order to go down to Jefferson Barracks 
(where we left men: St. Louis) and expect a steam boat up this 
week to transport us. The 6th regiment is there, and all will 
make eighteen companies; a lovely number of us, I hope that 
regiment will go away, as we want their quarters, but would 
like the society of their ladies. I believe they have about fifteen 
ladies, real dashers. Some of them I wanted to marry in Ken- 
tucky, but I was so chicken hearted I did not dare to ask them. 
They now have married in the 6th Infantry. When I go down 
I will abuse them. My room mate has just gotten back from 
the Pawnee Expedition and I conclude from their report, that we 
shall not have a fight with them. But most all are anxious to 
flog them, as there is no doubt but they deserve it, as they have 
killed many whites and will continue to do so till we kill one 
half and drive the rest into the Rocky Mountains to starve. 
They live in villages; houses built with perpendicular posts, ten 
or fifteen feet high, and others laid on about ten feet high, so 
that the tops will nearly meet, and leave a hole for the smoke to 
ascend. Fires are always made in the center of the room. A 
cannon ball would play ned with them; a forty pound shell 
would play the devil. 

We have a garden to leave; just in front of our quarters, 
of at least twelve acres, just coming up; have grape vines, four 
hundred plum trees and everything that is good under way, and 



24 SrCETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

we must leave it all. I do not regret it at all, for I wish to leave 
tlii.s river as soon as possible, on account of health and its ra- 
pidity. If I get down safe with my company I shall do great 
things, as it is ten times as daugerons in descending as ascend- 
ing. I have had command of our company for more than two 
years, and it has been the most healthy one. We have about 
fifty sick in eight companies, biit I have only one. I, however, 
have lost ten or twelve men since I came here by death, but 1 
could not help that. My company is the largest now, notwith- 
standing. But I cannot say very much in favor of its command- 
ing officer, your worthy brother Otis. 

Captain Wheeler to Mrs. Sarah Fox, at Hancock; New Ham- 
pshire, dated at Jefferson Ban^acks, Missouri, 
August 14, 1829. 

I conclude that you saw in the papers that we expected an 
Indian war. Governor Miller of this state called on our com- 
manding general for his brigade to go against the Indians near 
Cantonment Leavenworth. All got readj^ immediately, and as 
only one steam boat could take half the 6th, one company of the 
3rd started in that, and the rest expected to embark the next day. 
But to our great disappointment, the governor sent another ex- 
press, saying the case had been misrepresented, so the General 
ordered our regiment to be in readiness to move at a moment's 
notice, and has gone up to Cantonment Leavenworth to ascertain 
the facts. If wanted, we will be sent for immediately. They bur- 
lesque the affair very much. Some of the militia companies had 
to return the second day for provisions and clothes, which I ex- 
pect was true. It appears that a small party of Indians called 
on a small settlement of whites and demanded their land, and 
they would not give it up; the Indians said a large band would 
come and take it, and then left. The whites of an equal number 
(30) followed them and demanded that they lay down their arms, 
when an Indian aimed his rifle at one, and his son shot the 
Indian, and a fight ensued. Three of each were killed and some 
wounded. The whites ingloriously fled. The whites were pro- 
bably the agressors. They (the Indians) called themselves the 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 25 



Ireways, a tribe near Cantonment Leavenworth, bnt they proved 
to be Sacks. 

It took place about half way to Cantonment Leavenworth. 
The occupants of the Cantonment were much alarmed, as they 
had onl}' twenty white men and all sick except six. They had 
eight or nine ladies and about twenty camp women. All the 
ladies assembled ever\'^ night in a large hospital which was sur- 
rounded by about sixteen cannon. The officers sent and got 
forty men from Libert}^ who will be ordered home as soon as 
our troops reach them. All were very anxious to go; all the 
sick officers and soldiers who were able to go reported for duty. 
We have sixteen ladies here, and among them are the WIDOWS 
of the officers who have gone up. I conclude they will have two 
companies of the 6th regiment to garrison Cantonment Leaven- 
worth, and the rest will return in the same boat. I expected to 
have performed wonders, as I now command the grenadier com- 
pany and the shortest man is six feet two inches; real Samsons. 
The company is selected. 

Captain Wheeler to Miss Eliza Wheeler, at Hancock, New 

Hampshire, dated at Fort Jessup, Louisiana 

August 22, 1832 

He mentions having been on sick report for ten days with 
remittant fever. 'T was ordered over to the Texas coimtry, af- 
ter deserters (after dark) twenty-five miles, and rode there and 
back without stopping, and exposed to the night swampy air go- 
ing and the hot sun returning, without much water, which was 
the probable cause of the fever. Wife is well and enjoys better 
health than she ever did before. I believe Miss Marj^ (referring 
to their little daughter) has never been sick a day. She is not 
very cross, but will have proper attention shown her. She is 
very fat and tall, and does her best to scratch a book to pieces if 
she can get hold of it. She is a great coward for a soldier. The 
least noise startles her, which makes it difficult to keep her a- 
sleep in the day time. Barking of my puppy, crowing of chickens 
and even the bass drum in the band awakens her often, as the 
band room is directly back of my quarters. She sleeps well at 



26 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



iii^ht. vShe is laid on her back with her arms extended and 
does not move till morning^. I do not know yet what color her 
hair will be; many think red, but I do not. Her eyes now are 
hazel. 

You must have heard of the revolution in Texas, about the 
first of this month. All of the upper part of Texas turned out 
and a g^reat many went from about here. I should like to have 
been there to have seen the wonderful movements of the militia 
mob. All the Spaniards joined the mob at Nacog-doches. Colo- 
nel Piedras who was here on the 22nd of Februan-, was the com- 
manding officer of the regular troops, quartered in the village, in 
an old church. Sides and ends filled in with clay and loop holes 
to fire through. He had three hundred troops. The rabble had 
that number engaged and many more looking on. Colonel Pied- 
ras' house is red and the militia colonel gave orders for the troops 
to fire on the first red house they saw in marching into the town, 
and soon found one with red ends belonging to a saddler, and he 
looking out of the window, so they let drive at him and put a do- 
zen balls through his head, and left him kicking on his own floor. 
Another American came running up to the line; I sup]X)se to show 
them the way, and they were so full of fight, they knocked him 
over. They marched on till they came to the street that led to 
the Fort or Barracks. A compau}' of horse charged upon them, 
which for the moment, knocked every military idea out of the co- 
lonel's head, and he bawled out "retreat, retreat, we will fight 
them to-morrow." The colonel and all his men ran except about 
one company. On the second charge they had jumped into a 
pen which they filled full and stood it very well; killed man}' 
men and horses and did not make the third. The command was 
taken from the colonel. The rabble kept a constant fire at the 
barracks from two o'clock till sundown. The Spanish troops be- 
haved rascally; almo.st every gun was fired in the air; they did 
not take sight. They even took off the cocks of their muskets 
and threw them down at the Colonel's feet. Colonel Piedras 
found his men would not fight and many had been killed. He 
left in the night for another point and the next morning was 
overtaken by only eighteen horsemen who fired on him. Two of 
his officers seized him by the collar and took him to the enemy. 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 27 



He was broug-ht back to Nacog^doclies as the rabble was there. 
Two of our officers were there when he was brought in, and he 
was delighted to see them. He said if he had only a few men 
who were true to him he could have whipped the rabble. He 
told the officers he reg-retted very much that he had not shot his 
two officers who g^ave him up to his enemies. One young" man 
went over to the American side and g-ot wounded, and took Co- 
lonel Piedras' carriage to come in, and even passed here with it. 
Our General found it out, and I am told, sent a sheriff after him 
and took him for stealing-. I wish that Piedras had marched for 
this post; he would have found our regiment on the bank of the 
Sabine to protect him. They had no cannon on either side. 

Jane has been much alarmed about the cholera in Erie, as 
she has a brother and sister there, but as yet they have not had 
it in the village. 

This Indian business is a sore one for Illinois. They will 
kill every one of Black Hawk's men who return. Last year and 
this they sacrificed their farms on this account, I heard one of 
the Illinois priests swear he would kill any and every one that 
came near his house. Last year he was the first one to fight 
them, and this year they burnt his house. He was in Major 
Hellman's famous fight. Hellman says the Indians were in a 
line two miles long, and the whole of the hostile band. This 
priest writes that there were not more than a hundred Indians. 
They ran past him and returned past him; his horse would not 
keep up. He says Hellman's men fired and ran; took out their 
ramrods for whips, and dropped their rifles. He went into camp 
and told the regular officers (he was well acquainted with them) 
the story, and the militia swore they would kill the parson. 

I have just had a letter from Charles; he is well but not 
married yet. When at Jefferson barracks he gave me a hint that 
he would get manied if he could find as good a wife as I had. 
Aunt Irvine sends love. I have just applied to the General to 
order Lieutenant Cutts to join 'B' company. He has been at 
Towson acting adjutant there since he was promoted to my com- 
pany. He is an old beau of Miss Irvine. 



23 SFCETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



Captain Wheeler to his sister, Mrs. Mar^' Wheeler Kittredge, at 

Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Jessiip, 

Louisiana, June 14th, 1833. 

I wrote to Hancock on the 5th of May, and mentioned 
that wife and Tom-boy had left on May 2nd for Erie, in charo^e 
of Lieutenant Morris. He has his wife and boy, Tom, and Cap- 
tain Harris's lady, ^^'llO was so fond of Mar3^ She was going to 
Louisville, Kentucky; Morris family for Albany and Jane for 
Erie. They had to go to Orleans for a choice of boats and save 
the trouble of waiting for a Natchez boat, at least a week. She 
wrote me from TyOuisville. She had been frightened into a duck 
fit, as the steamboat raced with another two days. vShe expected 
every moment the boiler w^ould burst. I think it is wrong when 
ladies are on board, but I like it if onl}' gentlemen are there, and 
if done in the day time. Lieutenant Morris wrote me from Cin- 
cinnati on the 18th of May; all well and stage of water good. So 
I expect they will go Via' Pittsburgh. They thought of going 
'via' of the canal to Cleveland on Lake Erie. Cannot tell which 
route they will take. Mary could run all over the house at Nat- 
chitoches; would not creep at all. Jane wrote that she was not 
so much trouble aboard the boats as she anticipated. 

We have not had any cholera here yet, but have had some 
cases near by. Some men took hard up at vomething. I went 
to see them and I was afraid they would turn themselves wrong 
side out, and I left thtm in charge of the doctors. I went to see 
an officer who was taken suddenly. Many thought he had the 
cholera and the doctors sent me awa}^ I then called on some 
ladies; they asked me how the officer was; I told them he was 
improving. What are they doing for him? asked the lady of the 
house. I told her, six men were rubbing him when I left', and 
he was crazy as a brick-bat. Clean yourself, said she, come here 
when you have just left a cholera man ? I started, but stopped 
at the door, and told her I would come and rub her if she took it 
from me. She told me to be off; I then cleared out amid a roar 
of laughter. They rubbed the officer for twenty-four hours with 
laudanum and camphor. He is now able to walk. There were 
two cases of it aboard the boat on which they left New Orleans, 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 29 



which alarmed the girls slightly. As it happened three army 
surgeons, with whom Jane was acquainted, were on board. Jane 
expected to see Lieutenant Paige at Orleans, but did not say that 
she did. General Leavenworth was there but did not see the 
party. Jane nearh' fainted on the street, and had to be taken 
into a house; they thought at first she had the cholera, but it did 
not prove so. Lieutenant Morris and lady were with her. She 
writes she will not return in steamboats, but will come by sea. 
vShe is frightened at the racing of steamboats. 

I rode out five miles this week into the country with Mrs. 
Lieutenant Cutts (Jane's cousin) to see Lieutenant Morton's lady 
of the 7th regiment, and had a real feast of plums besides a good 
dinner. Aunt Irvine and her niece were there. Lieutenant 
Morton had gone on business to the state of Mississipi. He was 
a classmate of mine at Vest Point, and has a beautiful wife. 

I think Jane has reached Erie by this time. Little Mary 
must be tired traveling. When they ask her where her Pa's red 
hair is, she takes hold of her own hair with both hands. Aunt 
Irvine writes to Jane by to-morrow's mail (June 16th). I have 
not heard from Jane since she was at Cincinnati on the 18th of 
May. She said if it was not for Mary, she would give up the 
trip in dispair. She was about half way; I thought she would 
get sick of it, but she was verA' anxious to see her sister, and I 
could not discourage her. 

You write you expected me on this spring; I do not re- 
collect writing that I thought of going before fall. I expect to 
give you a call then, but something may happen that I cannot 
go then, may be ordered away with my company, or sent off on a 
court martial. We expect a post will be established six or eight 
hundred miles from here among the Choctaw Indians who are 
moving. It is three hundred miles beyond Fort Towson. The 
3rd or 7th regiment will be ordered there to protect them from 
the Pawnee and Camanche Indians. They are a beautiful 
set of pupps. 



JO SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

Criptaiii Wheeler to Jedadiali Fox, at Hancock, New Hampshire, 

calling- him, dear brother, dated at Fort Jessup, 

Louisiana, August 19th, 1834 

We arrived safely on the 12th inst., although very much 
fatigued. The route we came was eighty-five miles and the 
roads almost impassable. The wagon was without a cover and a 
hard seat. The last day's ride of only twent}- miles, through the 
hot sun was severe, and the hottest day of the season. The um- 
brella was of great use, but heavy to hold. The horses were worn 
out truck horses but sure. Jane has about gotten over the fatigue, 
and Mary is quite lively, but was fretful the last daj-. We did 
not hear of General Leaven wort's death until we arrived, which 
reached here a few days previous. It cast a gloom over the place 
which is depicted in every person's face. He was one of the best 
officers in the army. He persevered too far. He was deter- 
mined to bring the Pawnee Indians to a treaty. It was a real 
drought, hot sun and sickl}' enough. He had about three hun- 
dred dragoons and all the well men of Fort Towson with him on 
the expedition. The}- established a post on the Washita Riven 
a hundred miles above Towson, and garri.soncd it with the sick; 
or the post was established before, and all but the sick went 
thirty miles beyond. He ordered General Dodge with his dra- 
goons to proceed to the Pawnee village and bring in the Indians 
and send expresses to him; but he had not heard from him for 
twenty-seven days. Thej' are fearful he has been cut off, or so 
sickly they cannot go forward or return, and all their medicines 
given out. On the death of the General; the next officer ordered 
all the infantry to go in search of the dragoons, and request the 
Colonel to return. They think the dragoons are in a horrible 
situation. The General died with a fever, and his doctor was 
about as sick as he was at the time, and had not much medicine. 
The extreme sickness used it up. 

Mrs. Leavenworth is a very distressed woman ever since. 
She was crazy for some time. Aunt Ir\'ine sleeps over with 
her every night and the ladies spend the day with her. The 
commanding officer sleeps there also. They dare not sleep with- 
out a gentleman in the house, All the officers at Towson are 
sick but two; it is very sickly there. Aunt Nelson is confined 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 31 



to her bed with a fever. Cou.sin Ellen had returned on that 
account. General Leavenworth sent a dragoon officer to Texas, 
to request the commanding- officer to send the Camanche Indians 
to treat with him, but he would not on account of the unsettled 
state of their government. The officer had a fever in Texas and 
has a severe one here. They (the Indians) range across the two 
countries. The rest of the dragoons were at Fort Gibson. 

We had rather a slow return (I wrote from Alexandria). 
We had to wait six days twelve miles below the mouth of the 
Red River, at a small house, for a boat, as boats only run from 
Orleans, and that boat, the last trip, ran over the falls at Alex- 
andria, but the water was too low. 

Captain Nelson is expected down to take command of the 
Regiment the last of the month. His family will not be able to 
come with him. An officer will be on this fall to take the com- 
mand from him. Colonel Many of the 7th will be our Colonel. 

Captain Wheeler to his sister, Mrs. Mary Wheeler Kittredge, at 

Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Jessup, 

Louisiana, November 30, 1834. 

This is Sunda}' night and wife and Msivy abed, and if Marj'^ 
co\ild only keep her tongue still, I would write better; telling 
that her little ducks sleep on a pillow and that the parrot does 
not stand up and sleep but lays down. And just said when she 
was a little girl she used to read. This was the eclipse day, and 
almost total. It was to be quite at Charlestown. Stars were 
visible. 

We have a court martial here, trj'ing Captain Harris for 
intoxication, and whipping .soldiers. But as the order for the 
court has a mistake in it, I do not think the proceedings will be 
approved. 

1 had a letter from Charles the other day. He said it had 
been very sickly in the countrj", but that he was well. I believe 
he is going to get married at last, poor boy. He saj-s he must 
get married in the spring, or rent his house again. He does not 
mention her name or anything about her. 

Continuing this letter on December 1st, he says: "First 



32 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



day of winter; this is a great week; Congress meets to-day. I 
am twenty-five j'^ears old on the 4th. (This is evidently inten- 
ded as a joke, as he is actually thirt\'-seven) and was married 
just four years ago to-day. 

It is coiirt day in Natchitoches. We .sent one soldier in 
for biting another soldier's ear off; it is a state prison offense. 
Major DeRussy had his carriage horses shot in town by a citizen 
for rubbing themselves against his door or house. Both are alive 
but badl}' wounded. They sentenced him (the citizen) to pay the 
state two hundred dollars, and to be confined in jail two months 
and to pay De Russy all damages. The man is not worth a cent. 

I still command companj'- 'H,' although a captain has been 
transferred to it; Captain Nelson; he is acting major. His fa- 
mily came down from Towson a short time ago. Aunt Nelson 
and Ellen are quite well. Little Heron has become quite a boy. 
They have no other children. Uncle and aunt Heron have not 
yet returned, but expect them every day. I am sorry Captain 
Nelson has been transferred to company 'H,' as 1 will have to go 
to Towson when I am promoted, eight hundred miles by water 
and three hundred miles by land. Aunt Irvine and Mrs. Cutts 
send their love to you, Otis: 

I have not received a letter from Mount Vernon and but 
one from Hancock. I had one from aunt Murray of Canada, and 
they were disappointed at my not calling on them. We have 
had three letters from Erie. They were all well. They came 
near losing little Wheeler Pollock by dysentery. 

Captain Wheeler to his sister, Mary, dated at Fort Jessup, 
Louisiana, October 9th, 1835. 

We are all alive and well. Mary is a real romp and 
grows finely, and as noisy as your children ever were. She goes 
to school and is more fond of it than her father ever was. Her 
mother does not have to follow her with a stick. She does not 
care about learning much. She never fails to be dressed to 
death for Sunday-School. Miss Elizabeth Pollock Wheeler is 
quite an active Miss. She will not creep but is learning to stand 
by chairs. Jane has enjoyed very good health lately. The post 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 33 



has been very unhealthy this summer. The fever and ague and 
some fevers have prevailed, but no deaths from either. Some 
have died of consumption and dropsy. 

We have had a few cases of cholera, but none fatal or 
frightened. Gordon Irvine returned this summer with quick 
consumption; he bled greatly at the lungs. Aunt Irvine had a 
tough time with him. He is now able to ride out. Pen*y Wal- 
lace had the fever, and we took him home for about six weeks. 
He had inflamation of the bowels. He went back to the store 
and took the fever and ague, but it onl}- holds him four or five 
hours. Aunts Irvine and Nelson have been quite sick and also 
cousin Ellen Dexter, but now they are all better and some of 
them well. 

1 have not heard from Charles Wheeler since the 21st of 
May. He was well then and going to be married, but I have 
not written you since that. I have written to him to-day to in- 
quire how the matter stood and after the health of our new and 
dear sister, Redman. 

Captain Wheeler to "Brother Kittredge," dated at Fort Jessup, 
Louisiana, Februarj'^ 22nd, 1836 

As this is a great da\^ I must write you. I have written 
to Mr. Fox, and twice to John Whitcomb to show how we are off 
for news, and the terrible suspense we are in; wives looking sorry 
and begin to regret they had taken the button, on account of the 
wars and rumors of wars. We have been expecting an order 
every mail for two months, for the Florida war. I see by the 
papers that the 6th Regiment is ordered here and for what pur- 
pose I cannot imagine. Our mails fail six times out of seven, 
and if war was declared with France, we would stand a thin 
chance to hear of it by mail. The French require a dressing and 
if they do not pay over, they will get it, although their navy is, 
at least, six seventy-fours to our one. Jackson will not yield and 
I even believe he will have the Senate to assist him. I am con- 
vinced that every good citizen will go heart and hand with Jack- 
son for war. If we yield in this case, we may expect ever}' ty- 
rant in the world to pitch on us. We have taken a stand and all 



34 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



should s\ipport and sustain it. Some think, and it is reported, 
that Fraiice is at the point of purchasing- Texas. Others sa}' 
they are making a treat\^ to let the French troops pass through 
Texas to attack us; but if the}- do so we will have war with 
France and Mexico at the same time. I would not blame Mexico 
if they did sell to France, as the United States people have been 
the cause of their wars in Texas, and it would be paying us off in 
our own coin, in selling to a nation that was at the point of war 
\vith us. vSpeculators are the whole cause of it. 

Judge Thompson with his family left here j''esterday_ after 
spending a week with us; with three carriages, wife and nine 
children, bound for Galveston Bay. She a daughter of Governor 
Thompkins. He sold to the officers here thirty thousand acres 
of land. I did not put in for it, and hope the Mexicans will drive 
the Americans out. 

Most persons think the object of the 6th Regiment being 
ordered here, is on the anticipation of their rushing them out, 
and we will have to disperse and to disarm them. I find all the 
richest men in the United vStates own land there; manj'- congress- 
men besides Jackson and Daniel Webster. The United States 
will not permit France or any other nation to purchase it. 

I am pleased to hear that Georgia and the Carolinas are 
rushing down upon the Florida Indians, They have about 
twenty companies of United States troops and three thousand 
militia. General Scott is there before this on one side and Ge- 
neral Gaines on the other. They must do all this spring as they 
cannot live in the swamps in the summer. Our fleet is there to 
assist. Bad news came in last night, that a company from Or- 
leans of about seventy-five or eight)?^ men who went out first, 
were attacked in a heavy rain, and not a rifle would go off, and 
all were killed. Report says one thousand slaves have joined 
the Indians, and four hundred white abolition ests. The Southern 
militia will not take one of them prisoners. They have taken 
the troops from Baton Rouge, our nearest post. Lieutenant 
Paige, I see, is gone from New Orleans. The mail is just in, 
and no further news or orders. The Indian chief, Powel, says 
he was allowed five years to move in; now he will fight his 
time Gilt. 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 35 



Captain Belknap came on and brought Mrs. Leavenworth. 
He took m\' quarters and I took two vacant rooms in the same 
block with Lieutenant McRae. They are not quite so good as 
my old ones, but tlie}^ do very well. None of the ladies belong- 
ing to the Faction called on Mrs. Leavenworth. She unfor- 
tunately mentioned in St. Louis that she hated the whole Fac- 
tion and a letter to that effect got here just before she arrived. 
vShe did not take the trouble of calling on the ladies before .she 
left lierc and they did not forget it. 

Captain W'hceler to his sister, Mrs. Mary Wheeler Kittredge, at 

Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Je.ssup, 

Louisiana, March 24th, 1836. 

We are all well; Mary is very attentive to school, and has 
a face as large as Colonel Benton's of Missouri, and grows finely. 
I'ylizabcth is in pretty good order, as she has a mouthful of teeth 
and cutting more, and is fourteen months old to-morrow. She is 
a good child; does not creep and walked j'^esterday about two 
yards, and is of course, a smart child. She has more of the 
Wheeler face than the Wallace, as hers is round, and dark 
blue eyes. The}'- all say she is ray pet. She is liked by 
every body. 

The 6th Regiment from JefTerson Barracks has been in 
Natchitoches for a forthnight, with orders for this post, and two 
of their companies have encamped about a mile from this place, 
and what they were sent here for, I do not know. Papers say to 
preserve neutrality on the Texas border. They are under the 
command of General Gaines. I hear that the General has just 
returned from Florida, and gone to Memphis (his headquarters) 
and then came here. Some say that the 6th Regiment remains 
here, and that we go to Fort Gibson. Others that we go to Fort 
Towson, so we do not know what to think of it. I hope the 6th 
will go, I do not care where. However the 6th and 3rd will be 
kept on this Texas line till that cause is settled. It is a bad sign 
to see more returning from than going to Texas. Many have 
passed to-day. I had a long talk with one of their captains this 
morning. He says they think over there that the 6th and 3rd 



36 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



Resfimeiit will assist them in some way. I told him they coiild 
not. They called upon the Colonel to stop the Indians from 
<i;oing^ over. They are afraid of the Caddos from whom we 
boug^ht the land last year. Also the Cherokees and even the Se- 
minoles that we are at war with. 1 told him I thought the lat- 
ter would be glutted before they could reach Orleans, and the o- 
thers would not be allowed to go. In our treaty with Mexico 
we guaranteed to protect them from our Indians. But we do not 
know the Texan Government as yet, as they declared themselves 
independent this month, with Santa Anna on the Southern bor- 
der with nine thousand Mexican troops and there are five times 
that number of Indians holding off for the strongest or successful 
party. The report came in to-night that San Antonio, Texas 
had been taken and all their throats cut, which is true without 
doubt. David Crockett is one of the number of one hundred and 
fifty. More than Santa Anna's army have passed this post; e- 
nough to whip him. He proclaimed, and even through their 
papers, that he would be there in March with ten thousand men, 
and give no quarters. Why the Texans want then to meet them 
I cannot imagine. The Lieutenant Governor called on all the 
militia after San Antonio was besieged by an advance guard. 
Jane's brother was not in the Fort but near it. He was at the 
taking of the same place two or three months ago. 

Report came in yesterday that General Gaines had given 
the Indians in Florida a real flogging; killed three hundred of 
them, but the particulars were not mentioned. I fear that many 
of our officers and men were killed. I hope the militia have re- 
trieved their characters in soldiership, as I cannot say much for 
them in the Florida fights. 

I have not had a letter from Charles Wheeler for four or 
five months, he was well then, which was, I think, the only 
letter he has written since he took himself a wife. Jane and I 
both have written to our new sister. I have written to John 
Whitcomb often to let them know that 1 expect an order eveiy 
mail for Florida, and ready to start with my company for the 
war. Aunt Irvine's son, Gordon, is about returning from Mat- 
anzas, and is about well of the consumption. Major Heron and 
wife have just left here. He goes to purchase goods in New 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 37 



York, and she to see her son in Pennsylvania. He left John 
Irvine (Jane's cousin) and Perry Wallace (Jane's brother) to 
board with us, and in charge of the store. Major Heron said he 
would give sixteen dollars a month each for their board, and I 
told him I would not ask him more. 

Captain Wheeler to Brother and Sister, addressed to Zephaniah 

Kittrcdge, at Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated 

at Fort Jessup, Louisiana, May 24th, 1836 

Now as to wars and rumors of wars. We all have come 
to the conclusion not to believe anything, as we have contra- 
dictory reports daily as relates to Texas. The Texans had been 
frightened half to death and many wholly so by report that one 
division of Santa Anna's army was within fifteen miles of Nacog- 
doches and brought ten thousand Indians who were murdering 
and burning as they came, and all put out. The distress was 
great. Thousands of men, women and children came to the Sa- 
bine River and crossed over for days to our side. I saw many of 
my acquaintances who state the scene was distressing. Many 
women with four or five children, entirely exhausted, walking 
up to their knees in mud. One man gave a woman his horse 
and put the old lady in the saddle with one child before and two 
behind. I presume that not a panic ever took place on so large 
a scale as that, in North America. General Gaines was in Nat- 
chitoches and immediatel}' ordered out fourteen companies to the 
Sabine River, out of sixteen here. He left my company and one 
of the 6th Regiment. vSo here we are, and there are they. All 
got tired of the trip. General Gaines is with them and has three 
picked guards, nine, five and three miles off. 

One has to wade where the water is four feet deep. The 
fact is Texas was completely conquered except General Hous- 
ton's small army, and they retreating. But as fortune would 
have it, Santa Anna who is dictator and of course law and gospel 
with the Mexicans, took a lower route near Harrisburgh on Gal- 
veston Bay with a thousand men, and as it happened, met Hous- 
ton's army unexpectedly, and they gave him a volley of rifle 
shots, and killed about half, the first clip, and then the de\al was 



38 SKETCH OF TH E UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTE R (WALLACE) WHEELER 

to pa\', as they could not stand the second shot, and pnt out. 
Houston had burned down the bridj>e in the rear and completely 
shut up all in a heap, rivers and creek on all sides. Then it was 
with them pull Dick and pull Devil, as neither could get away. 
Santa Anna found he had to run, so he and staff and one gene- 
ral, Almonte, put out, and found the bridge gone, and the river 
a mile wide. So they took to a swamp. The Texans guarded 
the swamp all night. Troops stood in four feet of water, and in 
the morning thev charged in and found vSauta Anna on a log and 
took him to the camp. His army who were prisoners, on enter- 
ing hurrahed for Santa Anna, which exposed him. So writes an 
acquaintance of mine who was in the fight. 

A Mr. Thompson who came here with his family, whose 
wife was the daughter of Governor Thompkins of New York, in 
three carriages, went down towards Galveston Bay. He being 
agent in a New York land company. Letters came here yester- 
day to the commanding officer, begging him to send an officer to 
take care of his family. He had a daughter of eighteen, a fine 
looking and accomplished young lady. One of our officers hap- 
pened in here who was rather partial to the girl and immediately 
returned to General Gaines' camp, and the General told him he 
could go. Thompson sent timber for a house and mills, all of 
which Santa Anna's army burned at Galveston Bay. 

News came to-day that the Florida war is not over. That 
Fort Drane had been attacked and twenty United States soldiers 
killed, but the particulars are not known. That General Scott 
was centured by the inhabitants for leaving the territory unpro- 
tected. That many inhabitants were murdered and plantations 
destroyed; one belonging to General Clynch. So I think we all 
stand a thin chance of going to Florida yet, and probably soon. 
Jane says it will be the same as sending me to the grave. I ne- 
ver have much tender anticipations, as I have lived ten years 
longer than I expected. I consider, however, now that I am 
married, that my life is worth much more. Jane will go to her 
sister in Pennsylvania, if I am ordered off. 

Gordon Irvine has returned from Cuba, and remained 
here until last week. He began to fail and aunt thought it best 
for him to visit Virginia Springs, or go to sea. She could not 



SKETCH OF THE LIF E OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (W ALL ACE) WHEE LER 39 

leave him and has gone to Orleans. They may go to Boston, 
and if so, I told them by all means to visit Hancock and Mount 
Vernon. They will call on cousin Dickinson in Boston if they 
go there. Aunt is. you know, Jane's and my guardian. Jane's 
cousins, Lieutenant Grossman and lady, came on here with the 
6th, and is quartermaster. He received an order last week to go 
to New Orleans to build quarters. Mrs. Grossman is Jane's own 
cousin and has three children. He expects a furlough. 

Report came to-day that David Crocket's son, who is in 
General Houston's army, was so wrathy at the Mexicans that in 
the fight he was for killing the whole lot, after they had surren- 
dered, and General Houston had to confine him in order to 
hold him. 

I understand that nine companies are on the march from 
Gibson to Towson; but they are not wanted now. Two twelve 
pounders and powder enough to blow us to Davj^ Jones' came 
last week from Orleans and Jefferson Barracks, besides all kinds 
of shot and shell. I hope they will shoot General Santa Anna, 
if yesterday's report is true, that he ordered Golonel Fannin's 
party shot after his general had accepted their capitulation, with 
the understanding that they were to be sent to the states. As it 
was done the day after Santa Anna reached there, it must have 
been done by him. 

Gaptain Wheeler to his sister, Mrs. Mary Wheeler Kittredge, at 

Blount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Jessnp, 

Louisiana, July 14th, 1836. 

General HoiLston and his surgeon general and staff major, 
stop])ed here part of two days and one night. His wound is 
quite painful. The ball passed between the bones above the 
ancle and splinters came out. He heard of the landing of eight 
to ten thousand Mexican troops when he was here. He said 
that was bad business, but he said there was nothing to eat in 
Texas, and he would stop their provision wagons by setting on 
the Gamanche Indians to steal their horses, and would block 
them in that way. He says he only wants a few man to drive 
them out of the country. I am afraid he will not be able to take 



40 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



the field. He had Santa Anna's saddle, bridle and cane here, 
it is stated that they are trimmed with .^'old, bnt the plates are 
brass washed with g-old. The embroider}- is gold, and I think 
the stirrups are also, as they are very heavy. 

Houston says that when Colonel Fannin was cut off, an 
express brought in the report which alarmed his men so much 
they were running off. He told them the express was a spy, 
and that he had confined him and said he would have him shot 
in the morning. He said he knew he was lying and hoped the 
Ivord would forgive him. It saved his men and his battle took 
place shortly after. He said he made a short speech to his army 
the moment before the action, and wound up with the words in 
a loud voice; remember the Alamo and Fannin, And they 
rushed on like a set of tigers, howling like Indians. Without 
doubt those words did strike such a panic as to completely un- 
man the ^lexicans. They were determined to retaliate by the 
complete butcher}^ that followed after a few first shots. The}' 
did not slaughter the right ones. I have heard a number of 
ladies abusing a colonel of Houston's army for shooting a woman 
and I presume it is in the papers. I asked one of Houston's offi- 
cers about it, and he said she had a Mexican uniform coat and 
cap on, and in the high grass, which was the cause of the mistake 
in the sex. She was a Mexican soldier's wife. (The foregoing, 
of course, refers to the battle of Jan Jacinto.) 

It is astonishing what has been done to excite people a- 
gainst Mexicans, not only by the land-holders and speculators of 
Texas, but by the people of the States. The case of Lieutenant 
Dickinson's lady, which I was sorry to see in the Patriot, with 
VARIATIONS, was not correct. Many of her acquaintances who 
have seen her, and been well acquainted before and after the A- 
lamo fight, were astonished when I asked them the question. 
The}' said .she spoke in the highest terms of the Mexican com- 
mander, as to her protection. She has her child. The fact is 
our army had to rush to the Sabine on the report of a gentleman 
(we knew) instead of waiting to see if Mexicans and Indians 
WERE burning and killing all to the Sabine. Why did they not 
stop and fight; or wait to see even if there WERE any Indians ? 
Gentlemen tell me that the panic was so great that men even 



SKETCH OF THE HFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 4^ 

threw or pushed women and children out of the boats to get in 
themselves to cross the river. All that has passed, and let it go. 

General Gaines is still on the river with fourteen compa- 
nies. He had teams to march to Nacogdoches, and something 
prevented. (He keeps everything in the dark.) This week it is 
squally again, as he said he would only leave a small guard 
here. So jonah with 'H' company would have to go, and also 
Captain Lewis' company, which makes the girls scold a little. 
And to make the thing more pointed, has sent a hundred barrel 
of flour and twenty of pork to Nacogdoches. Then thought we; 
over we go; but an order came yesterday from Washington, to 
send all the provisions to Florida and Alabama, An express 
was sent to General Gaines; but he directed to send only half of 
it; the provisions to Natchitoches, and corn; many steamboat 
loads. The dragoons at Fort Leavenworth are ordered here, and 
those from Towson have not yet aiTived. I believe six or eight 
companies of Infantry- are coming with them. The latter are 
I believe, to come to Nacogdoches through Texas, and I hope 
those provisions are for them and not for me and 'H.' The Ge- 
neral issued an order which, if you saw it in the papers, would 
make you think we were in a bad pickle; issued yesterday. That 
owing to troubles or difficulties, no party can leave more than 
two miles without an escort of two hundred Infantry or a hun- 
dred and fifty dragoons. I mention this for fear that you might 
see it in the paper. If we are troubled with the Indian fever, it 
will be from and about Texas, and then when all make a rush 
and a real one, with Mexicans, joined by Indians; even then there 
will be no danger at this post. We do not hear where the Mexi- 
can troops are, but if they approach we will see plent}^ rushing 
out as before, to tell the news instead of remaining to fight. 

Now the worst is to be told. IMy own sisters have written 
to Jane about her brother in Texas, and I saw her answers, "that 
she was afraid to inquire." He wrote to me often when aid to 
General Houston, and when he left the General, he told me he 
had done so, which I was sorry to hear. He was comissioned 
Captain of artilery, and afterwards Major. I have many acquain- 
tances passing to and from Texas, and got them to make par- 
ticular inquiries about Wallace, and one, on his return ascer- 



j42 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

tained that he had marched a detachment to join Fannin. Then 
I heard of their fate, but knew some had made their escape, and 
was in hopes that Major Wallace was one of them, but found he 
was one of the sufferers. All were ordered out to get wood. 
These parties were shot by a body of soldiers who were placed 
by the side of the road, with exception of about a dozen who es- 
caped, and Wallace was one of those killed. Santa Anna was, 
without doubt, the murderer. Murderer, because a capitulation 
was made in good faith by General Urea, as I have been told by 
persons present. (Although Urea denies it) that they were to 
be sent to Orleans; signed by Urea, Fannin and Wallace. The 
man I saw was sent to me by a friend of mine in Texas. He is 
a respectable man of property. Urea saved him (the man of pro- 
perty) for a while to attend on the murder, which was to bring 
Fannin's sick and wounded out to be shot, (delightful business). 
Fannin was wounded and he was brought out and shot in his 
chair. 

We heard that at first Urea's command refiised to execute 
the order, but I asked this man if the officers appeared to be will- 
ing to execute the order, and he said yes, that he was with them 
then and afterwards for a week. He stole a horse when on the 
way to Matagorda and put off. Mrs. Pollock had seen the ac- 
count in the paper, of her brother. Mr. Pollock and wife wrote to 
me and said they must know the worst. I kept the papers from 
Jane until I could collect facts, and the day this letter arrived I 
asked her brother, who is here (Perry) and had not spoken of 
Wallace more than Jane had, what part of Texas his brother was 
in, and he said he expected he was with Fannin. He had seen 
the paper but did not speak of him. Mrs. Pollock had always 
been uneasy about his being in the Texan army, and expressed 
her surprise that we had not spoken of him. For my part I was 
only waiting for facts. Poor Jane, I showed her the letter and 
she read it, and I asked her what I should say. She said she did 
not know where he was, and then I had to tell her that he was 
with Colonel Fannin; the first time she had heard of it. She 
was very much distressed. She knew the fate of that command, 
but did not know her brother was thtre. She wanted to know 
why I did not tell her before. I told her many had escaped, and 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 43 



I had some hopes, till within a few days, that he was one of 
them. The report confined her to her bed for some days. Dr. 
Ewing, Houston's surgeon general, stopped with us. He was 
from Erie, and was with Wallace till he marched for Fannin's 
command. Jane was well acquainted with him. The Govern- 
ment of Texas is very unsettled. They released Santa Anna 
and sails were hoisted to put out, but the people stopped him. If 
Mexico does not acknowledge the independence of Texas he will 
be shot. All the troops they can send him will not save him. 
General Houston said he would have him brought to Nacogdo- 
ches or San Antonio. 

We had a letter from aunt Irvine. Gordon was better 
and under charge of Dr. Jackson of Philadelphia. They, I hope, 
will give you a call before they return. Lieutenant Bonnell has 
gone to Nacogdoches to hire store houses for our provisions. 
John Irvine has gone to Washington to get a commission in one 
of the uev/ regiments, if raised. He and Perry Wallace have 
the sanction and request of all the officers of this regiment. Ge- 
neral Gaines told Wallace that he knew his father well, and that 
he would do anything for him. It has cost more for the trans- 
portation of Major Heron's goods the last twenty-five miles than 
from New York to Natchitoches. He has so many that the 
freight alone cost ten thousand dollars. Officers are just in from 
camp and say the General will not pass over the river. 

Captain Wheeler to John Whitcomb, Mrs. L. Whitcomb and 

Mrs. Tuttle, at Hancock, New Hampshire, dated at 

Fort Jessup, Louisiana, May 8th, 1837. 

We received your letters of last week, and Jane says she 
is not feeling very well and that I must answer her part for the 
present. Our mails fail at all times, but now they have them 
brought in boats. Our boat and mail burned lately. So we must 
give some correspondence credit for letters therein, I did not ex- 
pect any news but bad, so I did not trouble myself much about the 
loss of the mail. Report says the 6th Regiment came here and 
the 3rd went to Towson, which alarmed us some, particularly 
those who had families and not much money. But the later and 



44 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



correct report is rather squally. That the new Regiment of 
Dragoons has letters by the dozen directed to this post office, and 
an invoice of four thousand horse shoes for this post came last 
mail, and letters say they will come, but not where we will go. 
The seven companies of the 6th are still in Florida, and three on 
the Sabine. So I conclude if I had gone with them as I was or- 
dered, I would have been there now. But I believe they did not 
get into a fight, but came near it, as two regiments were ordered 
to take two routes to a certain point, and the other regiment got 
as much as they wanted of fight before they arrived at the point. 
General Macomb wrote to the commanding officer here and at the 
Sabine, last mail to know if it would be a good place for dragoons 
at these two points as to cost of furage, &c., also to send an offi- 
cer to survey the Sabine to its mouth, and report the cost of 
clearing out said river. Also what kind of boats could navigate 
it. I understand that one of the two reported that it would be 
tough times for horses in this pine woods. 

Colonel Twiggs of the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons is a 
very popular officer at Washington and wants his Regiment at 
New Orleans or the nearest post from there. We can tell better 
in a few days what will be our fate. As for Texas news, we 
have none. All appear to agree that they do not expect any 
trouble from the Mexicans. Emigration is great to Texas, and 
if they do not attack the Texans before June is out, the Mexicans 
may as well give up the scrape, or sell out. Though they give 
up Texas they will have another Texas war in ten years, which 
will take off another slice as large as Texas and trouble Mexico 
twice as much. (Wonderfully prophetic) 

Persons are passing here every day, but more are organ- 
ized into companies. They carry a good rifle, pistols and knives, 
and look as though they were full of fight. But provisions there 
are scarce and dear. Most of them are cooled down before they 
travel a week in the land of promise. 

Camp news is not much. We were all disappointed that 
the army bill could not pass. We want more pay and more men. 
Resignations have been great since the bill failed. I conclude 
the want of more pay to support their children has caused eight 
camp women to quit their husbands within a fortnight, and six 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 45 



of them are sergeants. Republicans of the North want sergeants 
promoted to officers. Their ladies would be good society for 
ours. Half a dozen of us got our commissions last mail from 
Jackson, and they now require us to be sworn in, since nulifica- 
tion times, but we have no justice within twenty-five miles. So 
I will have to trudge to Natchitoches, which I dislike. I have 
not been there but once in two and a half years; I dislike the 
place so much. 

The mail is just in and confirms the report that the 2nd 
Regiment of Dragoons is ordered here. We find it in the Army 
and Navy Chronicle. Jane had a letter from her sister. They 
were well. She says Wheeler, her oldest boy, is a real yankee. 
He ought to be as he was called after me. Lieutenant Cady is 
here and ordered to survey the Sabine River, as I mentioned in 
this letter. He is stationed at the Sabine, and belongs to the 
6th Regiment. You must know him ; a son of Alba Cady. He 
is in here for an outfit for the trip. He promised to send me an 
otter skin in a few days. 

Poor aunt Irvine is much distressed and about worn out 
with constant attention on Gordon. He is reduced to nothing, 
as it were. Poor fellow, his legs are not larger than my wrist, 
and he was formerly as large as I was when last in Hancock. 
He is so weak that he can hardly throw off what he raises. I 
thought yesterday he would choke to death. 12th: You must 
excuse me for neglect in this writing, as Gordon Irvine required 
all my attention. Poor fellow; he was buried to-day, with all 
the officers and ladies in attendance. I sat up with him until 
half past four; daylight here, and he died at seven. He did not 
expect to live but a few days, but I had no idea that his time was 
limited to this morning. 

An officer is just from New Orleans and says that the se- 
ven companies of the 6th are ordered to the Sabine River, and 
two regiments of artillery. The 2nd Dragoons go to Jefferson 
Barracks to drill. I think the Secretary of War has a fellow 
feeling for Mexico, as he was minister there. 

Report came to-day that two thousand militia were ordered 
here, but I do not believe it. The Texas people can take care of 
themselves. 



46 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

Captain Wheeler to brother Zeph, Mr. Zephaniah Kittredge, Jr 

at Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated at Fort 

Jessup, Louisiana, May 16th, 1837. 

I wrote to Hancock three days ago and mentioned the 
death of Gordon Irvine, who died on the 12th. I set up with 
him and left at daylight. Cousin Gordon Murray was also with 
him. He died about seven the same morning. Aunt Irvine 
bears her loss with a great deal of fortitude. She has been all 
attention, night and day for years, and how she stood it I cannot 
imagine, with loss of rest every night. He was reduced to a 
mere shaddow. He spent a year in Cuba and another at sea and 
Philadelphia for his health, but all would not do. A young man 
came here lately from Virginia, having taken a severe cold on 
the deck of the ship, being sea-sick, went on deck and now he is 
in the last stage of what we call galloping consumption. He is 
a cousin of Lieutenant Macrae. Our two surgeons are very at- 
tentive. Dr. Craig was all attention to Gordon while he 
was sick. 

This young man has just died. His name is Macrae and 
about nineteen years old, and son of a widow. This will be dis- 
tressing news for her. He was going to Texas to purchase land. 
A good many are going over to settle, but I do not see any com- 
panies. The Texans think they can whip all the Mexicans that 
can be sent against them, but we do not hear of the Mexicans 
this side of Matamoras. The Texans are much alarmed about 
the Indians, and should they unite they could drive all the Tex- 
ans out. Times look rather squally about here, but I hope war 
will not be declared against Mexico. The Naches, sloop of war, 
has had a scrape there already, which you have, of course, seen. 
Tents have been sent here to-day for our command and turned 
over to companies, which has not been done since I belonged to 
the army. Two or three regiments of artiler^' have been ordered 
to the Sabine River. The seven companies of the 6th Infantry 
are also ordered there from Florida. Captain Wright is near 
here with recruits to fill our companies. So we are in doubt as 
to what is rotten in Denmark. We do not apprehend any dan- 
ger. The object probably is to protect our inhabitants from the 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 47 



Indians, We, however, can tell better in a few days. I see by 
the papers that General Gaines wants the gallant 1st, 3rd and 
6th to be stationed at the mouth of the Withlacoochee River in 
Florida, and to move every ten or twelve days into the country 
to hunt Indians. I hope he will not get them, as it would be a 
sweet summer residence, in the swamps, even if there were no 
hostile Indians. Major Heron is just up from New Orleans and 
says they had not heard there that the Indian war was closed. 
So it would take more than yankee guessing to tell what is to be 
done with our regiment. 

I had a letter from Charles Wheeler a short time ago. He 
seems to be doing well. Both he and Jane's brother, Gordon, com- 
plain, as they do throughout the world, that the money market 
is in a bad fix. We can feel it here as we have two paymasters 
and not much allowed by government. I was very sorry the bill 
before this Congress had not passed, as its object was to increase 
the officers and mens pay, and to increase the companies to se- 
venty-five or a hundred men, instead of fifty-one. Most of my 
company is Irish and Dutch; many of them are good men, but I 
would prefer our own people. 

Half a dozen of us have our commissions sent on, and we 
have no justice of the peace to swear us in. I have had two 
commissions before and never swore allegiance to the United 
States. It was not done until the South Carolina Nulification 
took place, although it is the law. Jane Murray is here with us 
still; she is a fine girl. Her brother is in Major Heron's store. 
We are back in the old quarters we lived in when I left for New 
Hampshire. They appear like old times. They have only one 
story and four rooms, two are bed-rooms. The Kitchen, as be- 
fore, is a little far off. It was choice that I moved, not turned 
out of quarters as before. It is time for the funeral and I must 
attend. The mail closes shortly and it is time for the other to 
come in. Should it bring any news I will mention it before I 
seal this. 

The mail is in and brought no extra news, only most of 
our officers are ordered here, and the recruiting service in this 
Western Department is broken up; just as I expected, as those 
officers cannot get even Irish or Dutch. 



^8 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

Captain Wheeler to Dear Sir, John Wliitcomb, Esq., Postmaster 

at Hancock, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Jessup, 

Louisiana, October 13th, 1837 

For fear you would think we were eaten up by the ne- 
groes, I will scratch you a few lines as the mail closes soon. 
The blacks had agreed to rise on the inhabitants last Saturday 
about Alexandria, eight miles below, but a trusty blade or black 
informed on them, and they sent for our troops. The Colonel 
sent a hundred men (two companies) who are half way down by 
this time, by land, with orders to Major Reilly's three companies 
at Camp Sabine, my company and Captain Bainbridge's here, to 
be ready at a moment's w^arning to follow. I got my axes and 
hatchets ground up and was readj^ in a few hours. I told the 
Commanding Officer that there was more talk than cider. He 
said the application was strong; signed by the most respectable 
and wealthy of the state. They hung four and had many more 
confined. The leaders were well treated. One said he was go- 
ing to kill his master to get his wine. Another had the use of 
his master's carriages and horses when he wished. Both treated 
well, and were the leaders. Some say that ten thousand were 
engaged in the plot. 

Our surgeon happened to be there on furlough at the time 
but he met an order ordering him back with Lieutenant Bon- 
nell's command. So I had but a moment to talk with him. The 
Dr. says all they want is to show the blacks that troops can be 
brought there in a short time. Jane was afraid I would have to 
go, but *H' company was last on detail. They have the yellow 
fever there I expect, pretty heavy. An officer came up from there 
last week and said they had it. A citizen came and said it was 
the fever of the country, as they told him. Our surgeon just 
from there says it is healthy there, but I knew by his repply to 
me, depicted in his face, that the yellow fever was not slow. 
We apprehend no danger from it. 

As for the Florida war, we do not get much information 
about it. I see Congress is fighting the war themselves. I wish 
they would bring it to a close, and that those who have abused 
the army would take a tour of pleasure to see how they like the 



S KETCH OF THE LIFE OF MR S. J ANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELE R 49^ 

location; yellow fevers and congestive fevers in the summer and 
floods in the winter. 

A citizen came in yesterday and said that the Mexican 
President is on his way to invade Texas with twenty thousand 
men. If so there will be another splaterfi cation among the 
people. 

Mrs. Wheeler, addressed to, My dear Mary, Mary Wheeler 

Kittredge, at Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated at 

Fort Jessup, Louisiana, May 19th, 1838. 

My boy was one of the crossest children I ever saw, until 
he was six months old. He now sits alone and is pretty good. 
(Evidently referring to her son, Wallace Wheeler.) With my 
sewing and a cross boy I have been kept pretty busy. Mr. 
Wheeler has written that aunt Irvine and cousin Hannah Cutts 
had left this in March. 

I heard from aunt Irvine in Louisiville. They got that 
far safely. Hannah had gone on to Washington City to visit 
the friends of Mr. Cutts, and intended staying where she was 
until the middle of June. From there she will go to Pennsylva- 
nia to visit her old friends. She will spend some time with my 
sister in Waterford. 

Mary had a party on the first of the month. It was her 
birth da}^ She is six years old. She invited all the children in 
camp. They danced from tea time until nine o'clock at night. 
The}^ had cake, lemonade and sugar plums. Mary attends 
school regularly and begins to w^rite. Elizabeth also goes to 
school. She came in the other daj^ from school and told me that 
Mr. Bonnel had a long tailed blue. I found out at last that it 
was a peacock she ment; it was the first one she had ever seen 
and she did not know what it was. 

Three or four of the ladies from Natchitoches came yester- 
day on a visit. Some stopped at Major Nelson's and some at 
Mr. Macrae's. They were old acquaintances of mine, so I was 
obliged to give up all work for the day and be as attentive to 
them as I could. Mrs. Macrae gave them a party in the evening. 
I had to go as there are so few ladies at the post. 



50 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



I suppose you have seen accounted in the papers of the 
terrible steamboat accidents. It is dangerous to travel on the 
Ohio or Mississippi Rivers now ada3^s, I do not remember the 
name of the last boat; she was a new one, and it was her first 
trip. The captain felt anxious to show his boat off to the best 
advantage in passing Cincinnati. He stopped above the place to 
take in a family off a flat boat. He held on the steam all the 
time, and as he turned the boat to start, the boiler burst and blew 
off the whole of the front part of the boat. There were a hun- 
dred and twenty five persons killed and missing. Major Fowl 
of the 6th Regiment and Dr. Huea of the army were among the 
number. There appears to be a fatality attending the majors of 
that Regiment. They have lost four in a few months. Some of 
the bodies of the poor creatures that went on the boat, were 
blown up into the streets of Cincinnati, most shockingly mang- 
led. Among the rest was the captain of the boat. Another boat 
blew up a short time before, and killed fifty persons. The boat 
cousin Ellen was in lost a number. It makes me shudder when 
I think of going on a boat. 

It is said that the Florida war is over. I hope it maybe the 
case, for I am so much afraid of Mr. Wheeler going. The order 
was out at one time for the 3rd and 5th to go, but it was counter- 
manded, and the other three companies of the 6th that were sta- 
tioned out at Camp Sabine were sent. Poor fellows, I pitied 
them when they marched by this on their way to Natchitoches 
to take a boat for Florida. They were to leave town to-da}^ at 
twelve o'clock. 

Cousin Gordon Murray has just come in; he wishes to be 
remembered to you. I had a letter from Perry to-day. He is in 
a store in Natchitoches. He has applied for an appointment in 
the army. I hardly know whether I want him to get it or not; 
the army stands so low now. We have heard to-day that the 
bill for increasing the army and the pay has lassed. I hope it 
may be so, but I hardly think it can be true; there must be 
some mistake about it. It is too good news to believe. 

I had a long letter from my sister last mail. They were 
all well. She was about sending two of her boys to Brie to at- 
tend school. The}' will stay with Mrs. Wilkins. Captain 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 51 

Wheeler adds a note. "The army bill is to increase a company 
from fifty-one to seventy-five, but I have forty-five now and do 
not want any more rascals. I have no officer here and often 
command two companies, and some times the post. My company 
is alread}^ in a new block: Our two companies are at the mouth 
of the Sabine River," 

Captain Wheeler to Brother Zeph, Mr. Zephaniah Kittredge, 

at Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated at Fort 

Smith, Arkansas, December 13, 1838. 

I have been here a week to-day. I had to leave my fa- 
mily at Jessup because the Arkansas and Red Rivers were too 
low for steamboats, and I could not trust them over these bad 
roads by land at this season of the year, as had it rained much 
there would have been a hundred places where the horses would 
had to swim. As it was I had no rain and got along very well. 
The carriage road is Saa' Little Rock and Washington. We 
have two roads besides, that one over the Arkansas Mountains, 
the highest and the most rocky I ever saw. It also runs by 
Washington as well as the third, and goes 'via' Fort Towson and 
over some prairie land and many mountains. I took the middle 
road over the mountains 'via' Zebulon or Murfreesborough, and 
except a turn to Washington, it is nearly directly North from 
Jessup. Most of the inhabitants on the road in the Arkansas 
part, are squatters on United States land which is not surveyed. 
The houses all the way were from twelve to twenty-five miles 
apart and only one room. So that travelers and the family with 
the dogs and cats had to sleep in that room. It is said that there 
are murderers and horse thieves in both states on the road, but 
they did not trouble me. I had one pistol loaded and put it in 
the saddle bags. The other I carried all the way in my pocket 
and did not know the mistake until I got here. A great many 
people were out hunting bear for the fat and meat, but I did not 
happen to see any. 

I left Jessup on Thursday, the 22nd of November and 
arrived here on the 7th of December, the second Thursday, with- 
out hardly any fatigue except the first two days. We generally 



J2 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

find coffee but no sugar; even then it went well as I had a great 
appetite, and have a good one now. I do not think very much 
of our market yet; we have venison, eggs, butter and chickens. 
The Indians have large farms and own many negroes and I con- 
clude, as good neighbors as those about Jessup. Major Belknap 
is here in command. He has our two companies encamped a- 
bout three quarters of a mile from Fort Smith and the same 
distance from the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers, and in the angle. 
We are now in tents but will have our quarters finished by New 
Years. I hope so, as I do not like tents on account of the smoke 
in cold weather and the heat in hot w^eather. We are digging 
and blasting a well and have gotten thirty-three feet deep and 
about fifteen feet through slate stone and now it fills three feet 
in a night. They have about eighty hands from Maine at work 
getting out material, etc. to build Fort Smith. Now there are 
only a few huts there. It will take three or four years to com- 
plete it; it is to be built of brick. One company of the 7th In- 
fantry is there. Fort Coffee eight miles above is broken up, 
and that company has gone to the Illinois River, forty miles from 
here, where a new post is to be built and where the great Indian 
Council was held. We heard that the 4th Infantry had put 
back to grab the last of the Cherokees in Carolina. They are 
to relieve the 7th who go to Florida. If they have removed fif- 
teen thousand Cherokees, as the papers state, I think we have e- 
nough without those from Carolina; and they have three hundred 
fighting men in Texas that keep the Texans in constant fear. 
Their land is within rifle shot of our camp, although I have been 
here a week and not seen one. 

I am told that four hundred Seminoles have been landed 
this side of Little Rock and they are coming up by land, and 
were expected some days ago. I find this a first-rate place for 
hunting, but there is no shot in the place, nor will not be until 
the boats run. I killed three ducks and a pigeon yesterday and 
have three charges of shot left, and must make the best of it 
to-morrow. The Arkansas is quite low, but a little rise a fort- 
night ago brought up two small boats here and one going down. 
There are many more below Little Rock waiting for a rise. I 
do not know how Jane will get here. I expect some officers will 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 53 

come from there, as three soldiers, one with a wife, are coming. 
One is an old acquaitance of Jane; he was my orderly sergeant 
for years. She has two servants to bring, and if both rivers are 
up, she will have to only change boats once at Naches. She may 
come with Major Nelson's family, to the mouth of the Arkansas 
River, as they talk of taking a furlough this winter. How I 
wish they were here. My boy is large enough to pick up leaves 
and he would have enough to do at that, as we are in an open 
woods, but the under growth has been cleared out. The boy 
could walk a few steps when I left J essup. I think Jane would 
like this place if she were here. Mary would be delighted as we 
have plenty of hickory nuts and it is only a few minutes walk 
to Fort Smith (town) and boats are there about half the year with 
every good thing from Orleans and the Ohio and Mississippi 
Rivers. 

Mrs. Cutts is still in Washington, and has another 
daughter. Her brother is in Texas and her mother in Pennsyl- 
vania. She was over to Mr. Murray's in Canada this fall. A 
letter mailed two days before I left J essup came here yesterday, 
five or six days after I did, so it takes one twenty days to come. 
I came here on horseback in fifteen days and brought a soldier 
along, as Jane was afraid to have me come alone, on account of 
my health, swimming cretks and dangerous inhabitants. We 
have three large roads leading past our camp and two beautiful 
prairies near by, so that we can have good riding and hay cutt- 
ing. I have not seen the Indian Farms but I must soon. We 
have two officers' ladies in the Fort or town, besides many mer- 
chant's and farmer's ladies; said to be very respectable, but I have 
not seen them. The sutler is going to have his family on soon, 
so Jane will not be alone. Major Belknap has applied for a chap- 
lain to preach and keep school. Jane will be pleased to hear it. 
To show how much alarmed we are about Indians, we do not keep 
a cartridge in camp; all over in town . I do not think it is more 
than four hundred miles the way I came. 

Sally wanted to know why they objected to Mr. Cutts 
being buried in the garden. Some thought he ought to be buried 
in the burial field, when one part was lotted for officers and gent- 
lemen who had died there and the other for soldiers, but they 



54 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

did not say much about it, though thought it the most proper 
place for officers. As only ladies and officer's children were 
buried in the garden, with the exception of Gordon Irvine, was 
their objection. As Gordon, Jane Murray and dear little Eliza- 
beth were in a line, I would not listen to any other place.. 

*** 

Captain Wheeler to John Whitcomb, Esq., Postmaster at Han- 
cock, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Smith, Arkansas, 
May 20th, 1839 

My paper of same date has not yet arrived, as four came 
together. We take the Orleans, Washington and New York pa- 
pers, all Whig. I voted for them to accommodate the officers, 
who are Whigs, but the papers are the meanest printed in those 
cities. Your paper mentioned a fuss here among the Indians, 
which was not known at this place. But the week it arrived, 
there was something like it, as the Lieutenant in command of a 
company at the Illinois, sixty miles from here, and also from 
Gibson, got information that the garrison was to be attacked by 
Indians that night (about three weeks ago) and sent an express 
to Gibson. The General sent four companies of Dragoons 
there in the night. One fellow said they killed six horses, and 
after all it was a false alarm. Since that half a dozen rowdies 
dressed themselves ''a la Indian" at Van Buren, six miles from 
here; took a fellow and lynched him "a la Arkansas" and all the 
town considered themselves murdered b}^ Indians, more parti- 
cularly the old women. 

Two of our officers, out of the three here, happened to be 
there. We had a good laugh over it. The Choctaws got into a 
big spree which lasted for some days, whooping and howling, the 
chief was as drunk as a coon, and swore he would hobble all of 
Belknap's road party, because he did not run the road by his 
hou.se. Lieutenant Glenn went to his house at the time and 
asked how his liquor held out. They do not mind or care more 
about the danger of Indians between here and town than so many 
chips. They have not even a musket on the road, and we have 
not had a cartridge in the Garrison since I came here, we keep 
them in town, a mile off. The wind blew our gun house down 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 55 

the other day, and I sent and had two six pounders bronght over 
here, but left their amuuition there. When the recruits, which 
have been expected for some time from New York arrive, I will 
make a gun house, trim the trees on the parade ground and hoe 
up the grass. Then I will send them on the road. They are 
rushing it hard up. They have about seventy miles on this side 
and thirty on the other. Captain Morris and his company are 
on the farther end, and crossing the Seven Devils Mountain, like 
the one near Jerry Eaton's in Hancock. 

The new Fort begins to show itself a little above the 
ground; getting a steam sawmill into operation for Fort build- 
ing. I have but twenty men here of my company and four of 
Major Belknap's. Captain Bonnell now of the 8th Infantry 
came this way with recruits for Towson, and returning spent a 
few days with us, and left here for Jessup. He is the officer that 
Jane and myself think so much of. We have his black girl. 
He left Jessup in August last for the 8th and has paid upwards 
of four thousand dollars since for doctor's bills for his negroes in 
Mississipi and Louisiana. He is verj^ kind to them. I sold my 
Beck}^ for six hundred dollars to Mr. True of New Hampshire at 
Natchitoches, and she died the other day with consumption. He 
cannot recover anything from me, as it was not known she had 
it. Nor do I believe now that it was the cause of her death, as 
having made a new dress, she put it on and said she would lie 
down until dinner time, W' hen they called her she was dead. 
My Lietenant, Chandler, went with Bonnell to Towson and re- 
turned here to staj^ So we have here at this post two lieut- 
enants, a doctor and three ladies. Lieutenant Henry is com- 
misar}-; Mrs. Henry is a niece of Governor Thompkins of New 
York. They go on furlough when the road party returns. He 
has had trouble enough with the Gibson prisoners. The rascals 
stole three barrels of flour last night which was left on the 
wharf. 

Miss Wilkins is a great acquisition to our little societj-, 
Jane is perfectly delighted now that she is here. We have a 
good cow and calf and keep a horse. We have strawbemes by 
the bushel. Aunt Irvine and Mrs. Cutts are at Jessup. They 
are going to live with John Irvine at Galveston in Texas. 



56 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



Major Nelsou is promoted to the 7th Regiment and I ex- 
pect he will have to join his regiment in Florida, but do not 
know. The Colonel says he will have our two companies here, 
go to Shreveport, sixty miles above Jessup to build a Fort, but I 
have moved enough with a large family. 

Captain Wheeler to Sister Eliza, Miss Eliza Wheeler, at Han- 
cock, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Smith, Arkansas, 
September 13th, 1840. 

This is our unhealthy season, as it is generally called, but 
our family has been quite well, except that Jane has the jaw- 
ache, which I think is the toothache. Two doctors have exam- 
ined it and say the tooth is sound. Splinters came out of my 
jaw often when the dentist pulled out a jawbreaker at St. Louis 
in 1831. Isabel our girl, had the fever and ague to-day, but 
they do not last long here. I have only five sick in 'H' company 
some with chills. Lieutenant Henry has the same and is quite 
sick. Mrs. Henry had a daughter the other day that w^eighed 
eleven pounds, a little larger than Clara was at her age. We 
have a school here now kept by the sergeant major we had at Jes- 
sup. The town was too far away for Mary, though Wallace at- 
tends at all times. Clara is teething and has been more fretful 
the last two days than all her life. She has cut two, and two 
more is enough if they should be as troublesome as mine were. 
Major Thomas has orders to discontinue the post and discharge 
his hands, which will make Arkansas scold. However they have 
expended forty thousand dollars, as I am told; more than last 
years appropriation. The work is only suspended until March. 
Barracks are of stone and quarters of brick. 

Captain Armstrong has arrived here with about two hun- 
dred thousand dollars to pay the Cherokee and other Indians, 
and our kind and humane citizens are taking them plenty of 
whiskey to meet the money. An officer is just from Gibson and 
says they have had trouble there already, and General Arbuckle 
sent a command from Gibson to whiskeize them. Besides we 
have at least fifty gamblers in town; real black-legs, waiting to 
grab their share in their professional way. I wish they would 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER W 

go to Vicksburgh and let them have another hanging scrape. 
We have had more than twenty of them all summer. It is a dis- 
grace to the town. We have no gambling in the garrison, nor 
do the officers play these days. Captain Macrae is able to ride 
and walk on his wooden leg. He has left here with his family 
in a steamboat. He has orders for the recruiting service at New 
York, and expects to be stationed in Virginia, near his friends. 
We regret Mrs. Macrae leaving here. She is a great crony of 
ours. Her daughter and Mary were great friends, and always 
together. Lieutenant Vose with about twenty men will escort 
this Indian money to Gibson, in a day or two. He is over-anxious 
to go, as he says he will get sick if he does not have a trip of this 
kind. Captain Mon'is was over here last week with his daugh- 
ter, and I was told Vose was very much smitten with her when 
he was stationed at Towson. She is quite a lady and rather 
pretty. We had not seen her since we were at Albany. Mary 
Wilkins and Jane were anxious to see Mrs. Lieutenant Dobbins, 
who is at Towson and from Erie. 

I believe there has not been many murders since I wrote, 
among the citizens in town, and the other side of the River. Two 
men drowned about that time. One fell from a hay stack in 
town while asleep or drunk, probablj'^ both. A white man who 
had a squaw wife was shot by an Indian. He was a great ras- 
cal. Some j-^ears ago the commanding officer of Fort Smith 
had some words with him, and this fellow threw a four pound 
weight, and nearly killed him, and his sergeant fired a cannon 
at his store. The State took it up and made so much fuss about 
it that the post was broken up. Half the town is made up of 
just such men. But there are many first rate gentlemen in 
town. We have a large wholesale store just opened. 

Perry Wallace was to spend the summer at Jessup. Mrs. 
Irv'ine and Mrs. Cutts were there. John Irvine brought Mary 
Cutts from Washington. Mrs. Cutts could hardly live without 
her. Major Nelson and family were at Newport Kentucky. He 
says he is not able to join his regiment in Florida. Miss Ellen 
is not married yet, though I rather think she will be soon. We 
have no news yet about our going to Florida. We may stand a 
better chance to go on account of this suspending the work on 



58 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

the fort. But the general detail for changes for the fall and win- 
ter army movements is not yet out. 

Wallace brought home a sunfish to-day, one of the boys 
gave him, and had it cooked. He was astonished to find that it 
had no more meat on it. I think Clara will creep in a few days. 

*** 

Mrs. Wheeler to, Dear Sister, Mrs. Mary Kittredge, at Mount 

Vernon, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Smith 

Arkansas, November 15, 1840. 

It has been almost two months since my husband left me 
for Florida, and I have thought every mail since I would write 
to you. But something or other has turned up to prevent me. My 
servants have been sick and I have a great deal of sewing to do. 
I feel so dull and dreary; feel all the time as if I was expecting 
Mr. Wheeler home. I go to the door twenty times a day and 
look towards the road without knowing what I am after. If his 
life is only spared I will try not to murmur at being separated 
from him for a while. I have had three letters from him since 
he left. The last one was written from Orleans, just as they 
were about to embark on board the ship. Harbinger, for Tampa 
Bay, to which place the destination of the regiment was changed. 
He wrote in fine spirits. I also had a few lines from Major 
Belknap; He wrote Mr. Wheeler was in fine htalth, which re- 
lieved me much, for I knew Mr. Wheeler would not complain if 
he was ever so unwell. Mary Wilkins is great company for me. 
She and I have been taking a long walk this afternoon through 
the woods. We had Teny Towny, as Major Belknap calls Cla- 
ra, with us. When returning we met Colonel Gibson and lady; 
they had been at our house. 

Cousin Gordon Murray is the sutler of this post, and 
boards with us. If he had not been here I would not have staid. 
I would have gone up the river to Erie, but I thought it better 
to go in the spring, when the waters were high. And I also 
dreaded the cold weather. I have been so long at the south that 
I cannot bear cold weather. I feel very anxious to have Mary 
at school. She is a great girl and ought to be learning some- 
thing. Mr. Wheeler says he will not be separated from us any 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER W 

longer than he can possibly help. Wallace is a big boy and one 
of the greatest talkers that ever was. His tongue is running 
just now as fast as possible. He is telling his aunt how many 
sweet-hearts he has and how much he loves them. He is his 
father's image. He went in to Fort Smith with my black wo- 
man not long since; she says the gentlemen all stopped as she 
was passing them and asked her if that was not Captain Whee- 
ler's sou, he is so much like him. Teny is one of the best child- 
ren in the world; she seldom cries. She creeps and pulls herself 
up by things; she will soon walk. Aunt takes all the care of 
her; thinks Teny perfect and is quite offended if any one says 
she is not pretty, which they frequently do to plague Mary. 

It is now after tea; Mr. Lobatt and Dr. Stevenson took tea 
with us. The former is a wholesale merchant in Fort Smith. 
He was shot by an Indian some four or five weeks since while 
on his way to Fort Gibson. The ball went in at his shoulder, 
passed around under his arm and came out at his breast. He 
was but eighteen miles from this when he was shot. The Dr. 
had him brought on a litter carried by four Indians, to this place 
and put into a set of vacant quarters. I have sent him all he 
has wanted. Mary and myself call to see him once a day with 
cousin Gordon. He is now able to walk about and come to his 
meals. He leaves in the first boat for New Orleans. His family 
is there and have heard of his misfortune. They are about 
crazy. Stevenson is his doctor; he lives in Fort Smith. He is 
a fine young man and a great favorite of Mr. Wheeler. 

Mrs. Wheeler to, "My dear sister" Mrs. Mary Kittredge, at 

Mount Vernon, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Smith, 

Arkansas, August 6th, 1841. 

I have not had a letter from Mr. Wheeler now for nearly 
three weeks. I am so anxious to hear; I am so fearful he may 
be sick, the weather is so intensely hot. In his last letter he 
said his health continued very good. He wrote in fine spirits, 
but the time appears so long; it seems as if I would never see 
him again. I am about crazy at times; I fear that wretched war 
will never be over. My little family are all well at present; 



60 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



Teny has been quite ill; I thought I would lose her; she had 
dysentery; in two days she was reduced to such an extent that 
no one would have known her. She now begins to look like 
herself again. She talks and says almost ever^'thing; calls me 
Jane altogether not pretending to say Ma, I have Mary at school 
now; she and Bell go, they walk a mile. The .school is a good 
one; the teacher is a moral, excellent young man. I am teach- 
ing Wallace his letters at home, as it is too far for him to walk. 
His health has been quite good since that last spasm he had. 
He grows thin and tall; is the image of his father. I was much 
disappointed at not going to the north this summer, but it was 
well I did not, for Teny was taken sick the day after the boat 
left that I had intended going in, and if we had been on the ri- 
ver, she must have died. Two of our young ofBcers have died 
since the regiment went into Florida. Mr. Glen and Mr. Vose; 
they were two of the best young men in the regiment. I regret ed 
very much to hear of their death. Mr. Vose was engaged to 
Miss Morris, the daughter of Captain Morris of this regiment. 

We have quite a pleasant little society here now. Gene- 
ral Taylor and his aid, with their families have come lately. His 
aid-de-camp lives next door to us. She, Mrs. Simmons, is quite 
sociable and I am much pleased with her. Oh what would I 
give if the 3rd could only come back to this post? We have ex- 
cellent quarters and marketing is very cheap. I know of no 
place where we would be as well off as here. 

Miss Wilkins desires a great deal of love to you all; my 
brother also wishes to be remembered. I have been looking all 
summer for brother Gordon. He wrote me in the fore part of 
the summer that he would come by land from St. Louis and 
make us a visit. I have not seen him for eight years. 

We have just had tea over for the second time; Perry and 
Dr. Stevenson came in after we had gotten through tea. They 
have been spending the day at a sulphur springs about nine 
miles from this. I talk some of taking Wallace and Teny there 
to spend a few days. 

The mail is in and brought me a long letter from Mr. 
Wheeler; he is in good health and spirits. His letter is dated 
the 27th of June. He says there is no prospect of any end being 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 61 



put to the war. He had received five letters from me in two 
days, after not getting any for some two or three months. He 
was glad we had changed our minds about going north, as this 
place is healthy. 

Captain Wheeler to "Friend Whitcomb" John Whitcomb, Esq. 

at Hancock, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Preston, 

iMiddle Florida, December 23rd, 1842. With 

orders to direct next letter to Fort 

Stansbury, Middle Florida. 

I must say to you and friends we are all well, but not 
exactly at the above named Fort, but in a steamboat bound for 
Appalache or Mount Vernon Arsenal on the Georgia line, up 
the Appalchecola River on a tour of pleasure of thirty miles. I 
have left a captain and half a dozen officers at Preston. The In- 
dians are expected there to-day. The Colonel and staff are a- 
board and all are convinced that they will be in to-day or to- 
morrow. We reached here on the 11th. I took two companies 
from St. Marks; got through the gulf in twenty-four hours; the 
Colonel and his staff went by land and met my two companies at 
Preston. The Colonel sent out two Indian runners and a war 
party who tracked them by one having on soldier's shoes; coming 
near, the chief cocked his gun and stepped on a stick, when he 
took our Indian for a nig. But the Indian turned round and 
the chief saw and knew him and dropped his rifle and eleven 
came in and the rest are expected. So we are all delighted at 
the prospect. All agreed to join us to-day, but still they may 
not. I hope and trust they will come in. The chief says he 
has fifty in all, twenty-three braves and twenty-.seven women 
and children. I have seen eleven bucks including the chief. I 
have no doubt of their sincerity. I had to leave the wife and 
little ones, but she is used to it, as you know. I wrote her that 
she could come to Florida if she would not be nervous about the 
Indian news. She had a lesson just after we were married 
when I was after Black Hawk. We have at least two steam- 



^2 SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 

boats pass our post a day, up and down, from Columbus, Geor- 
gia, well laden with cottofl, d6wn. 

*** 

Captain Wheeler to John Whitcomb, Esq., Post Master at Han- 
cock, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Stansbury 
Middle Florida, January 25th, 1843. 

I wrote you that I expected the Indians that I was after 
near West Florida would go aboard our steamboat on the Ock- 
locknee River, and I find that they have fulfilled their promise, 
but it took them some time to come down the Taluga River in 
canoes to our boat. Only about a dozen came in at Preston. 
The squaws and children did not visit us. Jane and I took a 
trip south for a week and called at Sea Horse Key, where the 
whole party of fifty are. The government has supplied them 
with clothing, etc. They were to leave for New Orleans in two 
or three days, preparatory to joining their band in Arkansas. 
We left here a week ago and went down the gulf in a steamboat 
to Cedar Keys, a hundred miles, and spent two days with our 
friends there and visited the islands and some of our old Forts, 
and then ran down one hundred and thirty miles to Tampa Bay. 
There we found many old acquaintances; got there in the morn- 
ing and left that night, as I was afraid we could not get a boat 
for some time, and we had left our children here with Miss Wil- 
kins, but General Worth told me I might stay as long as I 
chose. I dined with the General at four p. m.; a little too gen- 
teel for my appetite. 

I had not seen the General since I left West Point in 
1821. He looks well and a thorough going fellow as all know 
who have seen and served with him. Tampa looks like old 
times, as you know I spent November there in 1840. Jane was 
delighted with the large orange groves filled with ripe oranges. 
The lime trees were also filled with ripe fruit and at the same 
time blossoms and green fruit. Tampa has been much improved 
in looks, as the old buildings have been torn down and new 
buildings made and white washed, also many handsome fences 
and paleings. Wife is delighted with the place and wants to be 
stationed there. They have five companies there, two of our re- 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 63 



giment, two of the 7th, and one of the 8th regiment and about 
thirty Indians. Sam Jones' party comes and goes out often and 
I hope they will agree to go to Arkansas, but Sam Jones does 
not show his head. My old friend whom I was after so much 
about Fort Pleasant and a hundred miles around had been re- 
duced from sixty or seventy down to twelve bucks and a half 
dozen women and children, are still out. They ran away from 
the Keys some time since. Two of Tiger Tail's men came in 
after a three weeks scout through Middle Florida after this band 
called Halpatas, but could not find any signs of them and it is 
supposed they have bent their necks south and probably to Sam 
Jones' camp or country. Jane and I went over to the landing with 
Colonel Belknap and two Indians to have them examine the 
Withlacoochee River and country. They think if these two In- 
dians meet Halpata that they will stand a good chance to get 
shot by him. His party killed all our folks about Pleasant and 
those two delegation Indians were found a year ago in the road 
near Fort Fanning when I was with Colonel Garland. 

They have about a dozen ladies at Tampa and had many 
parties there just before we arrived. We brought a pilot from 
Tampa to Cedar or Sea Horse Key, to take the Indians to Or- 
leans Barracks. Lieutenant Henrj' goes with them and takes 
his family. He said he would get as many more ladies and 
gentlemen as he could, and make it a pleasure party. But sea- 
sickness, I think, will check their amusements. They will have 
to put in at Port Leon for wood, where, I presume, they will find 
some boys and girls to join them to complete the trip to Orleans. 

General Worth told me he had informed the War De- 
partment that our regiment and the 8th (his) regiment were dis- 
posable, and thinks they will leave Florida in April, but does 
not know where we will go. Jane is over anxious for me to take 
a furlough, but I am not OVER anxious to go. Our little ones 
are well and this is a healthy place. 

The Colonel went down with us and has gone to Palatka 
on a court, which leaves me in command; but the rascals on the 
alien act have commenced again. The sheriff called for six the 
other day, and the judge lives out of the county, making it ne- 
cessary for our officers to attend out of our county. The Gover- 



64 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 



nor said, as well as the United States District Judge, that they 
have no authority to take our men and officers out of the county; 
and we have twenty-seven men on guard to keep strangers out 
of camp. There were two non-commissioned officers for whom 
they had writs of habeas corpus, and I took their warrants from 
them and confined them in the guard house and set them to 
work. They may play ned with me but they will have to catch 
me first. They have plenty of big fish in our county; our legis- 
lature or council is in session at Tallahassee and all are hard up 
against the other county lawyers and judges. 
Wife and Mary Wilkins send love. 

Captain Wheeler to John Whitcomb, Esq., Post Master, Han- 
cock, New Hampshire, dated at Fort Stansburj', Middle 
Florida, January 15th, 1843 

This day is the middle of winter and we had a hard frost 
last night. For the last forthuight I have sent a wagon or dear- 
bourn and five horses three miles to the railroad for Colonel 
Hitchcock and his party, and yesterday I did not send out, as I 
told the officers it might bring the party in, and sure enough the 
Colonel came and I sent all the Indians down to Sea Horse Key. 
The reason of the delay was the Indians had not canoes enough, 
to bring them all down the Taluga River at once. I could hear 
of our boats "firing up" by the St. Marks pilots, and I sent my 
Lieutenant (Richardson) with a boat's crew to find out the 
trouble, but he found them with the Indians on board; so all is 
safe now. Lieutenant Richardson ran through the Gulf in the 
night to Ocklocknee Bay, and took up two rivers before he got 
to the mouth of the Ocklocknee and slept one night within three 
hundred yards of some of my men whom I left aboard the boat, 
but they had no muskets with them and thought Richardson's 
party were Indians and kept off. 

I took Miss Wilkins and Jane down in the cars to Port 
Leon the other day in hopes of meeting the Indians, but they 
came two days after, I think, and promised Jane, to go down to 
Cedar Keys or Tampa Bay next boat, and she holds on to me 
like old grim. 



S KETCH OF THE UFE OF M RS. JANE FOSTE R (WALLACE) WHEELER 65 

In a letter from Mary Kittredge, dated at Mount Vernon, 
New Hampshire, July 14th, 1843, to Captain Wheeler, at Jeffer- 
son Barracks, Missouri, she speaks of having received their let- 
ter announcing their arrival at Jefferson Barracks, evidently 
referring to their return from Florida. 

*** 

A letter received by Captain Wheeler on the 27th of May, 1844, 
from Sarah and Eliza, in which the following appears: 

"When you told us that you had resigned your commis- 
sion in the army I expected you would think very strange of us 
for not making some reply, but not feeling well must be my ex- 
cuse. I think you would like to know what we all thought of 
your leaving the army. We hardly know whether to rejoice or 
not. Since then Charles has written us that the officers are 
trying to get you back into the army. He says if they go to a 
new post they will appoint you sutler". 

Captain Wheeler was born at Hancock, New Hampshire, 
December 4th, 1797. He graduated from the Military Academy 
at West Point, New York, in 1821, when he was in his twenty- 
third year. He entered the service as brevet second lieutenant 
of the 3rd United States Infantry, July 1st, 1821. During the 
absence of the Captain, and during his Lieutenantcy, he com- 
manded company *H'. His promotion to the grade of first lieu- 
tenant occured in April 28th, 1826; that of Captain, October 31st 
1835; resigned February 29th, 1844. He had blue eyes, sandy 
hair, and fair complexion; height, five feet, ten inches. 

He served under General Leavenworth in the Black Hawk 
War. After his resignation from the army he spent three years 
in St. Louis, though his permanent home was in Troy, Lincoln 
County, Missouri. 

He married Miss Jane Foster Wallace at Jefferson Bar- 
racks, Missouri, December 1st, 1830. He died at Troy, Lincoln 
County, Missouri, June 1st, 1872, at the age of seventy-four 
years and six months. 

Mrs. Wheeler died February 19th, 1908, at Troy, Mis- 
souri; having lived ninety-seven years ten months and 12 days. 



Appendix 

In connection with Captain Wheeler's statement regard- 
ing the death of General Leavenworth, the following letter 
which appeared in the Army and Navy Journal of Angust 14th, 
1909, is of interest. 

To the editor of the Army and Navy Journal: 

The reference to General Leavenworth in a recent 
number of the Journal, recalls the manner of his death as given 
by Catlin in his ''North American Indians", Vol. 2, pages 50 and 
70. General Leavenworth commanded an expedition to visit the 
Comanche and Pawnee Indians in the South- West. Catlin in 
search of material for his work, had permission from the Secre- 
tary of War to accompany him. They started from Fort Gibson, 
designated by Catlin as being, at that time, the most South- 
West post of the United States. He does not give any definite 
date, but it must have been about the year 1834. The expedi- 
tion was escorted by eight hundred of the 1st Dragoons and two 
hundred of the 7th Infantry. Upon reaching the mouth of the 
false Washita, where they made a permanent camp, fully half of 
the command was down with a severe form of bilious fever, 
which resulted in many fatalities. Buffalo and other game had 
been seen in plenty, which the officers frequently hunted. On 
one occasion the General tried to capture a buffalo calf, and dur- 
ing the chase his horse fell into a hole with his rider; who 
claimed that he was not hurt, but soon fainted. Soon after he 
was seized with the prevailing epidemic, and Catlin thus writes 
of him at the Washita Camp: 

"The expedition went on under the command of Colonel 
Dodge, leaving the General in camp". Later, Catlin says that 
they received word that the General was dead, and attributes his 



SKETCH OF THE UFE OF MRS. JANE FOSTER (WALLACE) WHEELER 67 

death to the injury received in the hunt above alluded to. He 
adds: "My reason for believing this is, that I rode and ate with 
him every day after the hour of his fall, and from that moment 
I was quite sure that I saw a different expression on his face 
from that which he naturaly wore, and when riding by his side, 
two or three days after his fall I observed to him, "General, you 
have a very bad cough", he replied, "I have killed myself riding 
after that devilish calf, and it was a lucky thing, Catlin, that you 
painted the portrait of me before we started, for it is all that my 
dear wife will ever see of me". 

E. H. KING, M. D. 

Muscatine, La., July 31, 1909 




<^ 



/?/*-/" 



^ 



( 



